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LI BRARY OF CONGRE SS. I. 

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A BOOK FOR EVERY FARMER 

t"h e" " 

FARMER'S PEACTICAL 

FARRIERY. 

CONTAINING 

PRACTICAL RULES ON BUYTNG, BREEDING, BREAKING, LAMENESS, VICI0U3 
HABITS, MANAGEMENT, PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT AND 
. CURE OF DISEASES. ALSO, TUE GREAT SECRET OF TAMING WlLa„g5p^jp^ 
HORSES ; HOW THEY CAN BE FULLY SUBDUED, CAUSE«r"^ . ,. -, 
TO LIE DOWN, STAND WITHOUT HOLDINGj/^ 
WILL NOT BE FRIGHTENED AT ANY ' 
OBJECT, FOLLOW AT COMMAND, 
<feC., &C., «S:C. 

TO WHICH IS PKEFIXED 

Aia ACCOUNT OF THE BREEDS IN THE UNITED STATES 

WITH NTJMEEOUS ILLUSTEATIONS. 

COMPILED BY E. NASH. 



PARTICULARLY fNTENDED FOR FARMERS, AS A BOOK OF REF- 
ERENCE ON ALL SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH HORSE 
ECONOMY, AND CONTAINING THE LARGEST AMOUNT 
OF USEFUL INFORMATION AND RECEIPTS THAT 
HAS EVER YET BEEN PUBLISHED. 



AUBURN: 
EPHKAIM NASH, 

18 5 8. 




'm 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred 

and fifty -seven, 

BY EPHRAIM NASH. 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of New York. 



t)^ 



,.-«, 6\ 






PREFACE. 



The title of this work will in some degi-ee indicate our purpose 
in presenting it to the public ; a few remarks, however, may be ap- 
propriate. 

The conviction that the works on Horse Farriery, at the present 
day, as a general thing, are not written so much to instruct and 
benefit the horse owner and breeder, as the veterinary surgeon, that 
they confuse raiher than instruct the common reader, that they are 
too scientific, technical, minute and elaborate, to meet the wants 
and demands of our agriculturists, who, from the scarcity of com- 
petent veterinary surgeons and frequent impositions, are compelled 
to treat their own horses, are among the prominent reasons that 
*have induced us to present these pages to the farming community. 
We do not claim to. have presented much that is new, but as 
usefulness rather than originality was the object kept constantly 
in view, we feel but little regret on this point. 

AVe have consulted the best American and English authorities 
fon the veterinary art, and skillful practitioners, the experience 
[ of flaany intelligent and practical farmers who have communicated 
their views and experience in such papers as the Veterinary Jour- 
nal, Cultivator, Agriculturist, Rural New Yorker, Boston Culti- 
vator, Vermont Stock Grower, N, Y. Tribune, &c., for years past, 
and have obtained from these many valuable prescriptions and sug- 
gestions. Availing ourselves of these sources, we have collected a 
vast amount of valuable material on the subject of the work. This we 
have examined, sifted, arranged, digested, and reduced, by exclud- 
ing words, retaining ideas, facts and opinions, so as to present the 
substance and cream of the whole in a clear, simple style, within 
the comprehension of every one of common capacity. We have 
submitted the matter, previous to publishing, to one of the most 
noied stock breeders in the U. S. ; and the symptoms and treatments 



iv Pkefack 

of diseases, to one whose experience and ability has eminently 
qualified him. To these gentlemen we are under special obligations. 

This work is not only adapted to the wants of the farmer, but 
it should be in the hands of every person who owns a horse, for 
every one who keeps a horse should not only learn to keep him 
in health, for pecuniary gain, but as a matter of humanity and 
benevolence. 

We have aimed to be practical and definite on all points. We 
regret that we have felt compelled to be so brief on many im- 
portant matters, and indeed several articles have been thrown 
out entirely, for the want of room. If the reader will reflect 
that a large volume has been written on the horse foot alone, he 
will easily conceive our confined, embarrassed, and cramped situ- 
ation ; having to treat on so many different points and subjects 
within the scope of 200 pages, we have omitted illustiations, rea- 
sons, arguments, &c., and presented the naked facts. To those 
who may wish for a more extended description and treatment of 
diseases, we most cheerfully commend Dr. Dadd's Modern Iloree 
Doctor, or Youatt on the Horse. 

More space is given to the method of training and breaking 
horses, in view of the interest that has been elicited on the sub- 
ject, than would have been, under other circumstances. 

The method of treatment of Mr. Davis, found in this book, we 
will guarantee is fully equal if not superior to any of the so called 
Patent Rights, and we have our serious doubts, from all the evi- 
dence we have been able to gather, that there is any Patent Right, 
Copy Right, or any other right about them, but what the public 
have just as good a right to as they have to the President's Message. 
The use that has been made of this so called Right, and the manner 
in which it has been conducted of selling it as a Patent Right, and 
a little 6 cent pamphlet for SlO, binding the purchaser under S300 
bonds never to disclose it, and selling County rights for §1000, 
and the like, we think is one of the greatest impositions that has 
ever been passed upon the American People. 

Conscious of its imperfection, but trusting that it will in some 
degree meet the wants of the farmers, in adding to the comforts, 
improving the condition, relieving pain, removing disease, and 
sometimes saving the life of the noble and most useful animal, 
the horse, the author now lays it hopefully before the public. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 

HISTORY, BREEDS AND VAKIETIE8 OF HORSES IN THE UNITED STATES. 

Origin and value of the horse— The Arabian horse— The Morgan horse— The race 
horse—The Canadian horse— The Norman horse— The Cleveland bay— The 
American trotting horse— Dray or draft horse Page 13-28. 

CHAPTER II. 

BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT OP COLTS. 

Laws of breeding— like begets like— exceptions— illustrations— object of breed- 
ing — breeding— Temperament — Errors in breeding — Size — Condition — Exam- 
ple—Selections of mares-Stallion— Disposition— After management of mares 
—Breeding fancy colors— Rearing and management of colts—Breaking— Cas- 
tration— How to tame wild horses. 28-48. 

CHAPTER III. 

B. F. DAVIS' NEW METHOD OF TAMING WILD HORSES. 

Three fundamental principles— How to succeed in getting the colt from pasture. 
How to stable a colt without trouble— The kind of halter— Remarks on the 
horse— Experiment with the robe— Sense of smelling— Powel's system- To 
govern horses of any kind— If of a stubborn disposition— How to halter and 
lead — Side of a broke horse — Hitch without having him pull on the halter — 
Kind of bit, how to accustom a horse to it— To stable a colt— To mount the 
colt — To ride a colt — To drive a horse that is very wild and has any vicious 
habits — On balking — To break a horse to harness — How to hitch a horse in a 
sulky- To make a horse lie down— To make a horse follow you— To make a 
horse staad without holding 48-90. 



vi Contents. 



CHAPTER IV. 

GENEKAL MANAGEMENT, ETC., OF THE HOKSE. 

Stabling — Air and litter— Grooming — Dressing vicious horses — Exercise— Food — 
Age — To save horses from fire — Method of administering medicines — Scalded 
Shorts— Judging the character of horses by their color — Warrantees — Snow 
bells on horses' feet— To manage a horse when fallen down 90-111. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE VICES AND DISAGKEABLE OK DANGEROUS HABITS OF THE HOKSE. 

Biting— Kicking— Running away— Crib-biting— "Wind-sucking — Cutting — Not 
lying down— To prevent rolling in the stall— Overreaching the clinking— Paw- 
ing— Shying— Slipping the halter— Tripping— Horses jumping fences.. 111-121. 

CHAPTER VI. 

OPERATION, ETC., ETC. 

Setons— Bleeding— The pulse— Clysters— Tracheotomy— Physicking— Docking 
— Nicking— Blaze or star — To spot a black horse with black spots— Description 
of a skeleton of a horse— Getting the check of the bit into the mouth— Colts 
chewing halters 121-134. 

CHAPTER VIL 

DISEASES OF THE BRAIN, RESPIRATORY ORGANS AND ATE PASSAGES. 

Staggers — Megrims — Apoplexy — Phrintis or inflammation of the brain — Hydro- 
phobia or madness — Influenza or horse-ail — Spasms of the larynx and laryngi- 
tis — Pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs — Pleurisy — consumption — Stran- 
gles or horse distemper— Bronchitis— Catarrh — Nasal gleet— Roaring — 
Common cough — Chronic cough — Thick wind— Heaves or broken wind- 
Blistering 134-155 

CHAPTER VIII. 

DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS, DIGESTIVE CAVITY, AND EYE. 

Inflammation of the kidneys — Inflammation of the bladder — Inflammation of 
the stomach and boAvels — Bots — Colic — Scours and constipation in young colts 
— Diarrhoea — Indigestion — Inflammation of the eye — Locked jaw or tetanus — 
Fever— Putrid fefer- Hysteria in mares— Slobbering 155-172. 

CHAPTER IX. 

LAMENESS, DISEASE OF THE MOUTH, SKIN, HOOF, GENERALITIES, &C. 

Spavin— Windgalls— Ringbone— Founder or acute rheumatism— Chronic found- 
er — Cramp — Splent — Lameness — Elbow joint lameness — Toe crack — Swelled 
legs— Scratches— Poultry lousiness— Hide bound— Glanders— Farcy— Poll evil 
and Fistula Withers— List of Medicines—Receipts Tablo of Doses. 172-198. 



CHAPTER I 



HISTORY, BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES IN THE 
UNITED STATES. 



ORIGIN AND VALUE OF THE HORSE. 

Tlio liistory of the Horse, intimately interwoven as 
it is witli tliat of man, can hardly fail to interest the 
most careless. From the earliest ages, he has been 
man's faithful ally and willing slave. In war, he not 
only moves all the machinery of the field and camp, 
but shares with his rider, all the fatigue and danger of 
the battle. In peace, how various and invaluable are 
his services. Every branch of industry owes much to 
his patient toil. He plows the soil, sows the seed, 
reaps the harvest, and transports it to market. He has 
been admired, cherished and loved equally by the most 
enlightened and most barbarous races of man, and al- 
most invariably considered the most useful and man- 
ageable of all our domestic animals. 

The earliest record we have of the horse traces him 
to Egypt. He was domesticated in the days of Moses, 



14 The Horse Farrier. 

and was not known on any part of the American conti- 
nent until introduced by Europeans. Tlie wild Horse 
of South America descended from two stallions and 
four mares which the Spanish adventurers left there. 

The principal breeds and varieties which now pre- 
vail in the United States, are the common horse, de- 
scended from the common horses originally introduced 
by the English colonists, and mixed, more or less, with 
varieties of later introduction : the Arabian ; the Mor- 
gan ; the thorough-bred or Race-Horse ; the Canadian ; 
the Norman ; the Cleveland Bay ; and the American 
Trotting-Horse. 

The mongrel known as the " common horse," is too 
various in blood, and too multiform in his characteris- 
tics, to admit of any particular description. 

THE ARABIAN HORSE, 

This Horse deservedly occupies the highest rank. 
As late as the seventh century, the Arabs had no horse 
of value. The horses they obtained from Capadocia, 
and other horses that were obtained from their neigh- 
bors, were preserved with so much care, and so uni- 
formly i>ropagated from the finest animals, that in the 
thirteenth century they had obtained a just and un- 
rivaled celebrity. 

The Arabs divide their horses into three classes, the 
Attechi, or inferior bred, which are of little value; the 
iLadischi, or mixed breed; and the Koddaiii^ or 
thorough-bred, whose genealogy, according to the 
Arabian account, is known for two thousand years. 

The Arabian Horse would not be acknowledged by 
every judge to possess a perfect form. His head, how- 



The Arabian Horse. 15 

ever, is inimitable. This is universally acknowledged 
to be unsurpassed in any other breed. In the formation 
of his shoulders, next to that of his head, the Arabian 
is superior to any other breed. The withers are high, 
and the shoulder-blade inclines backward, and so nearly 
adjusted, that in descending a hill, the point or edge 
of the hame never ruffles the skin. 

The muscles of the thigh and fore-arm are strikingly 
developed, and assure us of his ability to perform many 
of the feats of strength and endurance related of him. 
The Arabian is as celebrated for his docility and good 
temper as for his speed and courage. It is to the 
Arabian that the English are chiefly indebted for their 
unrivalled breed of horses for the turf and chase. 

Layakd, the explorer of Nineveh, who is as familiar 
with Arabs as he is with antiquities, gives some curious 
details respecting the true horse of the desert. ^ Con- 
trary to the popular notion, the real Arabian is cele- 
brated less for unrivalled swiftness than for extraordi- 
nary powers of endurance. Only when pursued, does 
a Bedouin put his mare to full speed. It is the distance 
they will travel, in emergency, the weight they wiU 
carry, and the comparative trifle of food they require, 
which render the Arabian horses so valuable. Layard 
says that he knew of a celebrated mare, which carried 
two men in chain armor beyond the reach of some 
Aneyza pursuers. This mare rarely had more than 
twelve handsful of barley in twenty-four hours, except 
during the spring, when the pastures vrere green, and 
it is only the mares of the wealthy Bedouins that can 
get even this allowance. They are never placed under 
cov^r during the summer^ nor protected fi*om the biting 



16 The Horse Farrier. 

winds of the desert in winter. The saddle is rarely 
taken from their backs. Cleaning and grooming are 
strangers to them. They sometimes reach fifteen 
hands in height, and never fall below fomleen. In 
disposition, they are as docile as lambs, requiring no 
guide but a halter ; yet in the uight or pursuit their 
nostrils become blood red, their eyes glitter with fire, 
the neck is arched, and the main and tail are raised and 
spread to the wind ; the whole animal becomes trans- 
formed. Their value is so great, that a thorough-bred 
mare is generally owned by ten, or even more persons, 
and one can rarely be obtained, except by fraud and 
excessive bribery. A stallion may be obtained, though 
at a great price. The reason is, that on account of its 
fleetness and power of endurance, it is- invaluable to the 
Bedouin, who, once on his back, can defy any pursuer. 
An American racer, or even an English hunter, would 
break down, in those pathless deserts, almost before an 
Arabian became warmed up to its work. Layard 
thinks that no Arabian of the best blood has been seen 
in England. If this is so, we can scarcely suppose that 
any have come to America, but must believe the so- 
called Arabians, given to our government at various 
times, to be jpf inferior breeds. Rarely, indeed, are 
the thorough breeds found beyond the desert. It will 
be a subject of regret, to those who admire fine horses, 
to learn that the Arabian is considered to be degener- 
ating ; the consequence of the subjugation of Arabia, 
and the decline of the Bedouin tribes. 



The Morgan Horse. 



11 




?^^^ 



• GENERAL GIFFORD. 



THE MORGAN HORSE. 

Tliis breed of American variety of horses is, perhaps, 
held in higher estimation, and has obtained a greater 
celebrity than that of any other in the United States, 
particularly in tlie Northern and Eastern States ; and, 
we think, the fact would sustain the assertion, no horse 
has been so generally admired, and taken the number 
of first class prizes at our State and other Fairs as the 
Morgan fimily. 

The original or Justin Morgan is universally admitted 
to have been tlie root of this famous race ; there has 
been some diverse accounts of his origin. The one 
that is now generally admitted to be most authentic is, 
that he originated near Springfield, Mass., in 1793 ; 
was got by a horse called "True Brittain, or Beautiful 



18 The Hokse Farrier. 

Bay." His dam was of the Wild-air blood, a horse 
celebrated as a valuable stock. The original Justin 
Morgan is thus described by Linsley, in his "Premium 
Essay on the Morgan Horse :" "He was fourteen hands 
high, weighed about 950 lbs. His color was a dark 
bay, with black legs, mane and tail. Head good, not 
extremely small, but lean and bony; forehead broad; 
\ ears, small and rather wide apart ; eyes, medium size, 
dark, and prominent, with a spirited and joleasant ex- 
jn-ession; his nostrils, very large; muzzle, small ; lips, 
close and firm ; back, short ; shoulder-blades and hip 
bones, very long and obliqued ; loins, exceedingly 
broad and muscular. His body is rather long, round 
and deep, close ribbed up ; chest, deep and wide ; breast, 
broad, projecting in front ; legs, short, close-jointed, 
thin, but very wide, hard, and free from meat ; mus- 
cles, remarkably large for his size. His hair was short, 
soft and glossy ; a little long hair about the fetlocks ; 
feet, small, but well shaped. He was a very fast walker ; 
in trotting, his gait is low and smooth, his step sliort 
and nervous. He was not what is called, in these days, 
a fast horse, though it is claimed by some that he could 
trot a mile in three minutes. His proud, bold and 
fearless style of movement, his vigorous, untiring ac- 
tion have, perhaps, never been surpassed. He was per- 
fectly gentle and kind to handle, loved to be groomed 
and caressed, but disliked children about him ; had an 
inveterate hatred for dogs; if loose, always chased 
them the instant he saw them ; was an eager and nim- 
ble traveler, patient in bad spots, and celebrated for 
his willinguess to do his best, and for his great power 



The Moegan Horse. 19 

at what is called a 'dead lift.' He died in 1821, at 
the age of twenty-nine, from the etfects of a kick from 
another horse. Previous to which he was perfectly 
sound. His appearance was remarkably fresh and 
youthful. Age had not quenched his spirit, nor damp- 
ened the ardor of his temper. His eye was still bright, 
his step firm and elastic." 

All the immediate descendants of this remarkable 
horse have a striking resemblance in all his leadhig 
characteristics. Each exhibit in a high degree those 
qualities that have given such celebrity to their sire ; 
all had the compact form, wide bony legs, great ener- 
gy, vigorous health and iron constitution. The Mor- 
gans of the present day possess the spirit, compactness, 
strength of constitution, power of endurance, general 
structure of the body of their illustrous ancestor in an 
eminent degree. 

There has been, and are, doubtless, more "fast 
horses" of the Morgan breed, than of any other one 
variety in the United States. Among them may be 
named "Fanny Jenks," (who trotted 100 miles hi 9 
hours 25 minutes;) "Black Hawk," (who trotted 5 
miles in 16 minutes ;) the celebrated "Lady Suttin," 
(who trotted 2 miles in 5 minutes 17 seconds;) "Blue 
Morgan," "Know Nothing," "Flying Morgan," and 
a score of others that might be named, all havmg more 
or less of the Morgan blood. 

This breed sell at extravagant prices. Linsley says, 
"The best stallions cannot be purchased for less than 
from 1,000 to $3,000 ; the best geldings from 200 to 
$400; and the best mares from 300 to $600; and horses 



20 The Horse Farrier. 

possessing extra value, on account of their speed, are 
not included in this statement. 

The editor of the Albany Cultivator, Louisville 
Journal, Farmer's Encyclopedia, Maine Farmer, N. Y. 
Herald, R. L. Allen, of New York, various Committees 
at Agricultural Fairs, and many others, consisting of 
men of eminence, and supposed to be good judges of 
horses, have spoken in the highest terms of the Mor- 
gan breed. But it is no more than just to say there 
are some, and, perhaps many, who do not place the 
vaiue and esteem as higlrly as expressed in the forego- 
ing sketch. " Black Hawk Hero," (a portrait of which 
is given in the front of this book, is a line specimen of 
this breed,) the property of Mr. Thomas Gould, of Au- 
rora, Cayuga Co., N. Y. He was awarded the first 
premium as a foreign two year old stallion, at the New 
York State Fair in 1853, also a premium in 1855. 

THE RACE-IIORSE. 
Mr. Youatt says : " Tliere is much dispute with re- 
gard to the origin of the thorough-hred horse. By some 
he is traced th'*ough both sire and dam to Eastern pa- 
rentage ; others believe him to be the native horse, im- 
proved and perfected by judicious crossing with the 
Barb, the Turk, or the Arabian." But it cannot admit 
of a doubt, that the English trained horse is more 
beautiful, and far swifter than the justly famed horse 
of the desert. He has invariably beaten every antag- 
onist on his native soil. The racer is generally distin- 
guished by his beautiful Arabian head ; his fine and 
finely-set-on-neck; his oblique, lengthened shoulders; 
well-bent hinder legs ; his ample, muscular quarters ; 



The Kace Hokse. 



21 




FLYING CHILDERS. 



his flat legs, rather short from the knee downward, al- 
though not always so deep as they should be ; and his 
long and classic paster. The Darley Arabian was the 
parent of our best racing stock. The descendants of 
this valuable horse were the Flying Childers, and Bart- 
lett's Childers, from them descended another Childers, 
Blaze, Snap, Sampson, Eclij^se, Consternation, and a 
host of excellent horses. 

Eclipse and Consternation have justly gained a great 
celebrity in some portions of tliis country. Of Con- 
sternation, Mr. Randall says : " We believe that it is 
by a judicious cross with the thorough-bred horse, 
that the greatest improvement is to be made with a 
class of our common mares, in breeding animals with 
Btyle^ speed, and, above all, bottom^ for the carriage, 



22 The Horse Farrier. 

the buggy and the saddle; and because, we believe, on 
the principle that like produces like^ Consternation 
2yromises better for such a cross than any other blood 
stallion of which we have any knowledge." 

The progeny of the race-horse is very numerous. In 
most of the States the majority of the horses in ordin- 
ary use possess traces of racing blood. 

THE CANADIAN HORSE, 

Says Randall, "is found in the Canadian Provinces, 
and somewhat in the Northern United States. He is 
mainly of French descent — though many, so called, and 
doubtless some of the fleetest ones, are the produce of 
a cross between the Canadian and the English thorough- 
bred stallion. They are a long-lived, easily kept, and 
exceedingly hardy race, making good farm and draft 
horses, when sufficiently large. In form, many of them 
display, in a marked manner, the characteristics of the 
Norman — so, too, in their general qualities — but they 
are usually considerably smaller. Stallions of this breed 
have, in various instances, of late, been introduced in- 
to New York and other northern States, to cross with 
our common mares. The result has been decidedly 
satisfactory, particularly in giving compactness and 
vigor of constitution, where the dam does not excel in 
those particulars. 

A black stallion, imported from Canada, a few years 
since, by Mr. John Legg, of Skaneateles, N. Y., has 
got several hundred colts, which, when broken, have 
averaged, in value, considerably above the average 
prices of horses in the country. They are almost in- 



The Norman Horse. 23 

variably fair roadsters, and excellent farm-horses. This 
cross is more and more finding favor among our farm- 
ers. 

THE NORMAN HORSE. 
The origin of the most esteemed variety of the Nor- 
man horse, is said to have been a cross between the 
Andalusian stock of Spain, (\Yhich were derived from 
a cross of the Arabian or Barb,) and the old Norman 
draught horse. They are remarkable for their strength, 
good wind, and great power of endurance. It is said, 
" with their necks cut to the bone, they flinch not ; 
they put forth all their efforts at the voice of the driver, 
or at the dreaded sound of his whip ; they Izeep their 
condition when other horses icould die of neglect and 
hard treatment. A better cross for some of our horses 
of a certain description, cannot be imagined, if we wish 
to produce, in any reasonable time, a most invaluable 
race of horses for the farm and the road, than to breed 
from the full-sized Norman horse." They dre so hardy 
that there is but little risk in raising them. They are 
very gentle and docile, free from vicious habits, and 
at the same time, lively. They break-in without any 
difficulty. They cannot be called a fast horse, though 
there are many smart ones among the ordinary road 
horses. The jDostmen and stage proprietors in France 
use them exclusively. They drive them before the 
mail coaches at the rate of eight miles an hour, includ- 
ing stops. They are generally about 15 hands high, 
and weigh 1,100 lbs. 



24 The Horse Farrier. 

the cleveland bay. 
This breed has been considerably spread in the State 
of New York. They have been exhibited at our State 
Fairs. They are of an unusual size, though of a good 
symmetry and respectable action. We have not been 
able to ascertain whether they spring from the unmixed 
Cleveland stock of England, which is very scarce there, 
or not. Mr. Randall says, "The half-bloods, the pro- 
duct of a cross with our common mares, are Hked by 
many of our farmers. They are said to make strong, 
servicable farm beasts, though rather prone to sulli- 
ness of temper. 

THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. 
These, in reality, do not constitute a breed, or a dis- 
tinct variety. Mr. Randall says : "There is a family 
of superior trotters, including several the best our 
country has ever produced, the descendants of Abdal- 
lah and Messenger, and running back through their 
sire Mambrino, to the thorough-bred horse, old Mes- 
senger. But many of our best trotters, including the 
extraordinary animal. Lady Suffolk, have no known 
pedigree, and some of them, without doubt, are en- 
tirely destitute of the blood of the race-horse. Lady 
Suffolk is by Engineer, but the blood of Engineer is un- 
known, (she is a gray mare, fifteen hands and two 
inches high.) Dutchman has no known pedigree. Other 
celebrated trotters stand in the same category, though 
we are inclined to think that a decided majority of the 
best, especially at long distances, have a greater or less 
infusion of the blood of the race-horse. 



The American Tbotting Horse. 



25 




LADY SUFFOLK. 

The United States has, uadoubtedly, produced more 
superior trotters than any other country in the world, 
and in no other country has the speed of the best Am- 
erican trotters been equalled. The New York 'Spirit 
of the Times' — the best authority in our country on 
this and all kindred topics — thus compares the English 
and American trotters : ' There is no comparison what- 
ever between the trotting-horses of the two countries. 
Mr. Wheelan, who took Rattler to England last sea- 
son, and doubly distanced with ease every horse that 
ventured to start against him, as the record shoics^ in- 
forms us that there are twenty or more roadsters in 
common use in this city, that could comjDete success- 
fully with the fastest trotters on the English turf. They 



26 The Hokse Farrier. 

neither understand the art of training, driving, or rid- 
ing, there.' " 

All this is exiDlained in the same way we account for 
the great number of superb hunters that are admitted 
to abound in England above all countries. The differ- 
ence is occasioned by the management, trammg and 
attention to this definite object. 

DEAT OR DRAFT HORSE. 

This breed are generally small headed for their size, 
short necked, with thick shoulders, standing rather up- 
right to the collar, short in the back, very wide in the 
breast, deep and round in the body, with broad backs 
and loins ; the quarters thick, the thighs and fore arms 
very strong, the legs short, with round hoofs. They 
possess great strength, and though somewhat slow, 
they are not deficient in bottom, and from their great 
w^eight, as well as muscular power, they go through 
draft work that could be performed by no other ani- 
mal. 

From what we have seen of this class of horses, we 
are inclined to the opinion that they possess properties 
that are w^ell calculated to improve the stock of this 
country for farming purposes. Several years ago a 
grey horse called Columbus^ w^as sent into Massachu- 
setts by Gen. John Coffin of the British army — a gen- 
tleman who, vrith his brother. Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, 
expended much money in the purchase of the best cat- 
tle and horses in England, which were sent as presents 
to the Agricultural Society of Massachusetts, their 
native State. Columbus was kept several years in the 



The Draft Horse. 27 

different counties of Massachusetts, and his progeny- 
were esteemed as the most powerful draft horses that 
could be had. 

The form and size of this horse indicate prodigious 
strength, and though a person who was unacquainted 
with the breed might suppose his motions were slug- 
gish, we are satisfied from having seen him in harness, 
that his natural walk is faster than that of horses in 
general, and that he is sufficiently active for the plow 
or wagon. They will move off with a load that would 
astonish the driver of a common horse. They are 
hardy, and are kept fat with only moderate feeding. 

The best of the heavy Dutch horses of Pennsylvania, 
bear a considerable resemblance to the horses above 
described, and some of them are excellent for draft. 



CHAPTER II. 



BREEDING AITD MANAGEMENT OF COLTS. 



BREEDING. 

That a proper knowledge of the laws of breeding, is 
a matter of primary and vast importance, is a generally 
admitted fact, and requires no argument to prove, as it 
is only by this means we can maintain the present 
qualities of our improved breeds, and prevent the race 
from degenerating, and correct and improve their im- 
perfections. And it is equally true that there are many 
erroneous views entertained and practiced by many of 
our Farmers. No person should attempt breeding, 
particularly the horse, without first making it a matter 
of investigation, patient study, and inquiry. The first 
axiom we would lay down, says Youatt, is, that Uke will 
produce like, that the progeny will inherit the general 
or mingled qualities of the parents. There are but few 
diseases by which either of the parents are affected 
that the foal does not inherit or show a predisposition 
to. Broken wind, spavms, ring-bones, founders, blind- 
ness, roaring and the like, are transmissible, there can 
be no question not excepting ill-usage and hard work. 



Like Begets Like. 29 

These blemishes may not appear in the immediate pro- 
geny, but will in the next or more distant generation. 
From this arises the necessity of some knowledge of 
both the sire and the dam. The most careless breeders 
have observed qualities appearing in their stock that 
belonged to neither sire nor dam, but which belonged 
to their ancestry further back ; such as a vicious 
temper, some peculiar mark, white face or feet. Not 
only are diseases inherited by the offspring, but the 
form, spirit, constitution and temper. *This maxim, 
however, that " Uke begets Hke," is only true in part, as 
there is a constant tendency to change, arising from 
difference in food. Change of climate, or other physi- 
cal conditions to which they might be exposed, might 
naturally be expected to produce considerable cor- 
responduig modifications in the form, size, color, and 
coating of animals ; as it is well known that cattle 
generally become very large and fat when reared for 
many generations on moist rich soils, where good 
pasturage abounds, but are distinguished by the short- 
ness of their legs ; while on drier situations, where the 
herbage is sparse, their whole bulk is less, and their 
limbs more muscular and strong. A country of heaths, 
or of other innutritions plants, will not produce ahorse 
so large nor so strong as one of plentiful herbage, as is 
manifested between those reared on bleak mountains 
and fertile plains, high latitudes and more temperate 
climes, sandy deserts and watered vales. A change of 
situation in the one case, after a succession of gen- 

*D. J. Bowne, in Patent Office Official Report, 1854. 



30 The Horse Farrier. 

erations, not only diminishes the size of the animal, 
but affects the character and form of his body, head, 
and hmbs. Thus, if a London dray horse be conveyed 
to Arabia, and subjected to the same influences to 
which the native breed of that country is exposed, in 
the course of some generations he will present the 
leading characters of the Arabian horse. On the con- 
trary, if the race thus changed be conveyed again to 
England, in the course of several generations, it will 
gradually acquire the j:)roperties it formerly jDOSsess- 
ed. This fact would seem to prove that the Ara- 
bian horse cannot exist in perfection in any of the 
northern or western countries of Europe, and that the 
humidity of the climate and the influence indirectly 
arising from that cause, are the principal reasons of this 
change. Similar instances might be given in reference 
to the changes wdiich have been observed in the sheep, 
the goat, and the hog. The former, when subjected 
to the chmate of the West Indies, from Thibet, Spain, 
or Vermont, where their fleeces are fine, delicate, and 
soft, after a few years are entirely covered with rough, 
coarse hair, resembling that of the goat. 

Breeding should be conducted wdth some definite 
object in view. There is no greater error than the 
common remark of some farmers, of some Avretched 
under-sized, ewe-necked, cat-hammer Avi'eck of a mare, 
broken-Avinded, ring-boned, and spavined, "Oh, she 
Avill do to raise a colt out of!" She will do ! but Avhat 
Avill the colt be ? It will not be worth the mare's grass, 
let alone the price of the stallion's service. But it is 
a good feature that there is a growing anxiety among 
fai'mers to raise valuable stock. This is attributable to 



Breeds in Horses. 31 

the fact, that it is not only as cheap to keep a good 
horse as a bad one, but in reality it is much cheaper. 
The prime cost is the only difference to be considered ; 
the cost of stable room, keep and care is identical, 
while the wear and tear is infinitely less, in the sound, 
able, useful animal, than in the broken jade. The work 
which can be done, and the value earned by the one, 
is in no possible relation to thLt of the other. The 
horse bought at the age of four years at $300, when he 
has attained the age of eiglit is worth tA\ice the money, 
either for work or for sale, to the horse that was 
bought for a third of that price, when he has attained 
the same age. 

What is called breed in horses, consists in the supe- 
rior organization of the nervous and thoracic organs, 
as compared with the abdominal ; the chest is deeper 
and more capacious ; and the brain and nerves are 
more highly developed. More air is respired, more 
blood purified, more nerA^ous energy expended. — 
Whilst the heavy cart-horse may be considered , to 
possess the lymphatic temperament, the blood horse 
may be regarded as the emblem of the nervous and 
sanguine temperament combined ; the latter, however, 
predominating. When the nervous temperament has 
the ascendance, the animal ^dll carry but little flesh, 
but will go till he drops, never seeming to tire. He 
will, however, take too much out of himself, become 
thinner, and is what is called a hot horse. When the 
sanguine temperamelat greatly prevails, the horse will 
have great muscular powers, but not much incfination 
to put them to the stretch. When the lymphatic tern- 



32 The Horse Farrier. 

perament has superior influence, the animal, though 
looking fresh and fat, and starting well at first, will 
soon flag and knock up, and will rather endure the 
lash than make an extra exertion. It is the happy 
combination of these three temperaments that make a 
perfect horse, when severe exertion is demanded. The 
full development of the abdominal organs is essential, 
inasmuch as it is through the food that both the mus- 
cular system and the nervous energy is furnished. If 
the digestion is weak, the other powers will be in- 
efficiently suppUed. The sanguineous organs are need- 
ed to furnish the muscular powers, and the nervous sys- 
tem is demanded to furnish the muscles with the re- 
quisite energy and capability of endurance. What is 
called bottom in the horse, is neither more nor less than 
the abundant supply of nervous energy, the muscles 
being at the same time well developed. 

There are two errors commonly committed by per- 
sons selecting animals from which to breed. Some pay 
too much attention to pedigree, and too little to form, 
spirit, etc. The correct theory is, though form and 
character is of primary importance, the blood should 
never be neglected. The great point to be aimed at 
in a horse for all work, is the combination in the same 
animal, of maximum of speed, compatible with suffi- 
cient size, bone, strength, and solid power, to carry 
heavy weights, draw large loads, and to secure to the 
stock the probability of not inheriting deformity or 
disease from either parent. Breed as much as possible 
with pure blood, of the right kind, and breed what is 
technically called up, not down, that is to say, by breed- 



Breed with Pure Blood. 33 

ing the mare to a male of superior, not inferior blood 
to herself; except where it is desired to breed like to 
like, as Morgan to Morgan, for the purpose of perpet- 
uting a pure stream of any particular variety which is 
needful. A half-breed mare should never be put to a 
half-breed stallion, as in that case the product in nine 
cases out of ten degenerates below the dam, whereas 
if she be bred to a thorough-bred stallion, the product 
will be superior. And the error is, to breed from mares 
that have become noted for their speed. Some persons 
will pick up some long-legged, rangy, broken down, 
trotting mare, which could perhaps trot her mile in 
2.30, thinking to produce something very fine. Nothing 
can be more ill-judged, as in the majority of instances 
it is sure to end in disappointment. A mare, with 
all the best blood in her veins, if she has not got good 
shape and good points, is not fit for a stallion. 

And the great and common error in breeding, is to 
cross a compact dam with a large sire, the object 
being to increase the size of the offsj^ring above that of 
the dam ; the result is almost sure to end in disappoint- 
ment. This has been attempted in England, and has 
proved a failure. The rule deduced from experience, is, 
the dam must be as large or larger than the sire. — 
This is a historical fact. The history of breedmg 
shows that to improve a breed, we must select the best 
formed, largest mares, and cross them with medium 
sized, compact, muscular stallions. 

Size is not the measure of power. Some horses that 
weigh 900 lbs. will exceed in strength and endurance 
others of 1,200 lbs., or more ; and of those horses that 
have distuiguished themselves as trotters, a large 



34 The Horse Farrier. 

majority have been of medium size. Shortness of legs 
with compactness of form is indispensable to great 
endurance. The size of the muscles of a horse, other 
things being equal, determines his power. In selectuig 
a stallion, aim to get one that excells in the points that 
the mare is deficient in, and you wish to avoid in the 
offspring. Let him exhibit courage and endurance, rath- 
er than speed. No one stallion is best adapted to all 
mares ; determine, with a matured judgment, which 
class of animals your mare is best calculated to produce, 
whether a roadster, coach horse, or draught animal, 
and having determined this, use a stallion best cal- 
culated to produce the thing reasonably expected, 
bearing in mind the rule that " I-ike will produce 
like." Breeding, to be successful, must be a matter of 
study. One point, says Youatt, is, absolutely essential, 
it is " compactness" — as much goodness and strength 
as possible, condensed into a little space. 

'Next to compactness, the inclination of the shoulder 
will be regarded. A huge stalhon, with upright 
shoulders, never got a capital hunter or hackney. 
From him the breeder can obtain nothing but a cart 
or dray horse, and that, perhaps, spoiled- by the op- 
posite form of the mare. On the other hand, an up- 
right shoulder is desirable, if not absolutely necessary, 
when a mere slow draught-horse is required. 

The condition of the stallion, is too often over- 
looked by the most of our farmers. By condition is not 
meant a high state of fatness, but on the contrary, it 
indicates the greatest, health and strength, reducing 
all superfluous fat, bringing the fiesh into clear, hard, 



Condition of a Stallion. 35 

and powerful muscles. Too many farmers are content 
with the form and figure of a horse, without regard to 
condition. 

A remarkable case occur)*ed in England, some years 
since. George the IV. owned, and was in the habit of 
riding as a hunter, a horse of unequaled excellence. 
His Royal Highness caused a few of his mares to be 
bred to him in the spring, after he had been kept in 
the highest condition as a hunter throughout the winter, 
and the produce, on growing up, jDroved every way 
worthy of their sire. When His Royal Highness be- 
came seriously engaged in the cares of Government, 
and therefore relmquished the pleasures of the chase, 
bemg desirous to perpetuate the fine qualities of this 
stock, he ordered the horse to be kept at Windsor for 
public covering, provided the mares should be of the 
first quality ; and in order to insure a sufiicient number 
of these, directed the head gix)om to keep him exclu- 
sively for such, and to make no charge, with the ex- 
ception of the customary groom' s-fee of half a guinea 
each. The groom, anxious to pocket as many half 
guineas as possible, published His Royal Highness's 
liberality, and vaunted the qualities of the horse, in 
order to persuade all he could to avail themselves of 
the benefit. The result w^as, the horse bemg kept with- 
out his accustomed exercise and in a state of reple- 
tion, and serving upwards of a hundred mares yearly, 
the stock, although tolerably promising in their early 
age, shot up into lank, vreakiy, awkw^ard, leggy, good- 
for-nothuig creatures, to the entire rum of the horse's 
character as a sire — until some gentlemen, aware of the 



36 The Horse Farrier. 

cause, took pains to exjolain it, proving the correctness 
of their statements by reference to the first of the 
horse's get, produced under a proper system of breed- 
ing, and which were tlien in their prime, and among 
the best horses in England. 

** In selecting a mare," says Youatt, " it is perhaps 
more difficult to select a good mare to breed from than a 
good horse, because she should possess somewhat op- 
posite qualities. Her carcase should be long, in order 
to giv^e room for the growth of the foetus, and yet with 
this there should be compactness of form and shortness 
of leg. In frame, the mare should be so formed as to 
be capable of carrying and well nourishing her off- 
spring ; that is, she should be what is called ' roomy.' 
There is a formation of the hips which is particularly 
unfit for breeding purposes, and yet which is some- 
times carefully selected, because it is considered ele- 
gant ; this is the level and straight hip, in which the 
tail is set on very high, and the end of the haunch bone 
is nearly on a level with the projection of the hi]) bone. 
Nearly the opposite form is the more desirable. She re- 
quires such a shape and make as is well adapted for the 
purpose she is intended for," that is to say, for pro- 
ducing colts of the style and form she is intended to 
produce. We will add, that she must have four good 
legs under her, and those legs standing as a foundation 
on four good, well shaped, large feet, opened-heeled 
and by no means flat-soled. That she should have a 
good, lean, bony head, small cased, broad fronted, well 
set on, upon a high, well carved neck, thin at its 



Selection of Mares. 37 

junction with the head ; high withers, thin shoulders, 
and, above all, long, sloping shoulders. A straight 
shoulder is an abomination; it renders speed impos- 
sible, and gives a rigid, inflexible motion, often pro- 
ducing the bad fault of stumbhng. She should be 
wide-chested and deep in the heart place. Her 
quarters should be strong, well let down, long and 
sickle-shaped above the hocks. It is better that she go 
with her hocks somewhat too wide apart than too near 
together — the former point indicating power, the 
latter weakness, of a bad kind. It has been shown that 
a breed mare may, nay, should be considerable longer 
in the back than one would choose a working horse to 
be, but if she be particularly so, it is desirable to put 
her to a particularly short-backed and close-coupled 
horse. 

The next thing to be observed by the horse-breeder, 
in raising stock of any kind, after the blood and form 
of the mare and the qualities of the stallion, is the 
temper and condition of the dam. The former, be- 
cause nothing is more decidedly transmissible in the 
blood than temper ; the second, because, unless she is 
in good health and vigor, it is impossible that she can 
produce vigorous and healthy ofispring. 

The first time a mare is to be covered, it is of the 
utmost importance that the stallion should be the best 
that can be procured, as instances have been known 
where the stallion having possessed some striking points, 
the colts of the mare have shown those points for several 
colts after, though a different stallion was used. 



38 The Horse Farriee. 

Under no possible circumstances breed from a stal- 
lion which has any affection of any kind of the respi- 
ratory organs, whether seated in the lungs or in the 
windpipe, or from one which has any affection of the 
eyes, unless it be the direct result of an accident, such 
as a blow or a puncture, nor even then, if the accident, 
having occurred to one eye, the other has sympatheti- 
cally followed suit; and, on the other side, we should say 
on no account breed from a mare affected in either way, 
unless she be possessed of some excellences so extra- 
ordinary and countervailing, that for the sake of pre- 
serving the stock one would be willing to run some 
risk of having a worthless animal for his own use, in 
the hope of possibly having one free from the dreaded 
defect and of superlative excellence. 

Previous to sending the mare to the horse she should 
be got into the most perfect state of health and con- 
dition, by moderate exercise, abundance of good, nutri- 
tous food and warm stabling. It is not desirable that 
she should be in a pampered state produced by hot 
stables or extraordinary clothing, that she should have 
the short fine coat or the bloomino^ and orlowinor con- 
dition of the skin, for which one would look in a race- 
horse about to contend for a four mile heat — not that 
she should be m that wiry form of sinew and steel-like 
hardiness of muscle, which is only the result of train- 
ing. Still less desirable is it she should be overloaded 
with fat, especially that soft fat generated by artifi- 
cial feeding. 

The temper is of great importance, by which must 



Condition of Mares. 39 

be understood, not that gentleness at grass, which may- 
lead the breeder's family to pet the mare, but such a 
temper as will serve for the purpose of the rider, and 
will answer to the stimulus of the voice, whip or spur. 
A craven or a rogue is not to be thought of as the 
mother of a family ; and if a mare belong to a breed 
which is remarkable for refusing to answer to the call 
of the rider, she should be consigned to any task 
rather than the stud farm. Sulkiness and savageness 
are hkewise to be avoided, whether in stallion or mare. 
From the time of covering, to within a few days of 
the expected period of foaling, the cart-mare may be 
kept at moderate labor, not only without injury, but 
with decided advantage. It will then be prudent to 
release her from work, and keep her near home, and 
under the frequent insiDcction of some careful j^erson. 
When nearly half the time of pregnancy has elapsed, 
the mare should have a little better food. She should 
be allowed one or two feeds of grain in the day. This 
is about the period when they are accustomed to slink 
their foals, or when abortion occurs : the eye of the 
owner should, therefore, be frequently, upon them. 
Good feeding and moderate exercise will be the best 
preventives of this mishap. The mare that has once 
aborted, is liable to a repetition of the accident, and 
therefore should never be suffered to be with other 
mares between the fourth and fifth months : for such 
is the power of imagination or of sympathy in the 
mare, that if one suffers abortion, others in the same 
pasture will too often share the same fate. Farmers 



40 The House Farkier. 

wash, and pamt, and tar tlieir stables, to jn-event somo 
supposed infection; — the infection lies in the imagla- 
ation. 

When the period of parturition is drawing near, she 
should be watched and shut up during the night in a 
safe yard or loose box. 

If the mare, whether of tlie pure or common breed, 
be thus taken care of, and be in good health while in 
foal, little danger will attend the act of parturition. 
If there is false presentation of the foetus, or difficulty 
in producing it, it will be better to have recourse to a 
well-informed practitioner, than to injure the mother 
by the violent and injurious attempts that are often 
made to relieve her. 

The parturition being over, the marc should bo 
turned into some well-sheltered pasture, with a hovel 
or shed to run into when she pleases ; and if she has 
foaled early, and grass is scanty, she should have a 
couple of feeds of grain daily. The breeder may de- 
pend upon it, that nothmg is gained by starvmg the 
mother and stinting the foal at this time. It is the 
most important period of the life of the horse ; and If, 
from false economy, his growth is arrested, his puny 
form and want of endurance will ever afterwards testi- 
fy the error that has been committed. The grain 
should be given in a trough on the ground, that the 
foal may partake of it with the mother. When the 
new grass is plentiful, the quantity of corn may 
gradually be diminished. 

The mare will usually be found again at heat at or 



After-Management of Mares. 41 

before the expiration of a month from the time of foal- 
ing, when, if she is principally kept for breedmg pur- 
poses, she may be put again to the horse. At the 
same time, also, if she is used for agricultural purposes, 
she may go again to work. The foal is at first shut in 
the stable during the hours of v/ork ; but as soon as it 
acquires sufficient strength to toddle after the mare, 
and especially when she is at slow work, it will be 
better for the foal and the dam that they should be to- 
gether. The work will contribute to the health of the 
mother ; the foal will more frequently draw the milk, 
and thrive better, and will be hardy and tractable, and 
gradually familiarized with the objects among which it 
is afterwards to live. While the mother, however, is 
thus worked, she and the foal should be w^ell fed ; and 
two feeds of corn, at least, should be added to the 
green food which they get when turned out after their 
work, and at night. 

In four or six months, according to the growth of 
the foal, it may be weaned, and the mother should be 
put to harder work, and have drier food. One or two 
urine-balls, or a physic ball, would be useful in the milk, 
should she be troublesome or pine after the foal. 

Mares frequently produce colts, at fourteen and 
fifteen years of age, and sometimes twenty. Experience 
has proved that from six to twelve, is the most valu- 
able part of a mare's life for raising colts. They are fre. 
quently incapacitated by breeding too young. 



42 The Horse Farrier. 

BEEEDIXG FANCY COLOES. 

The following is taken from a correspondent in the 
Albany Cultivator ; as to the correctness of the theory 
we cannot vouch : " In order to obtain a cream color- 
ed colt from a bay horse out of a bay mare, I tried the 
following experiment, which proved entirely success- 
ful : a cream stud was first led out and used to tease 
the mare. After putting blinds on the mare, the cream 
was taken out of the way, and the bay horse used to 
cover the mare, and not seen by her, but immediately 
returned to the stable, and the cream colored horse 
led ■ right in front of her, and exposed to her view for 
some time." This may be attributable to the nervous 
influence of the dam, or what is called the influence of 
the imagination of the dam on the faetus. It may 
have been something akin to this, by the influence of 
which, through the medium of peeled rods, Jacob 
caused the cattle to be born ringed streaked and spot 
ted^ 

KEARING AXD MANAGEMENT OF COLTS. 

Colts should be taken from the dam when about six 
months old, if in a good condition, and shut up in a 
house loose, or in a small yard, (if the yard is large 
they are Hkely to run themselves poor,) with a fence 
that they cannot leap. It is at tliis time they usually 
acquire the habit of leaping which follows them through 
life. They should be kept out of sight and hearing of 
the dam, as much as possible. They may be allowed to 
re-join each other once a day, for a short time, in or- 



Management of Colts. 43 

der that the foal may empty the udder, and not be 
suddenly deprived of its natural food. 

They should be fed with oat meal and sweet apples 
shced ; about two pints of the former, and two quarts 
of the latter, three times a day, with a sufficiency of 
good timothy hay. They should eat out of a manger 
about as high as they naturally hold their heads — a 
stable with earth foundation, kept dry with straw, — 
chaff, or leaves is preferable — if on a stable floor, their 
dung should remain with occasionally leveling off, and 
provided with linter — they should be let out daily for 
exercise, and should not be tied in the stable. Con- 
tinue this feed through the winter. If fed oats, they 
should be soaked. 

There is no period which is of more importance 
than the first winter. "We frequently see very prom- 
ising colts make poor horses from want of proper man- 
agement when young. They should on no account be 
allowed to get poor while growing, unless it be on 
grass when three years old, for a short time this is 
thought by some to be beneficial. No investment that 
the farmer can make will pay better than keep- 
ing colts in a good condition. On the other hand they 
should not be too fat, nor forced to maturity too soon, 
or you may give them a kind of hot-bed growth. 

BKEAKING. 

As this subject is one of vital importance, and is too 
little understood, and should receive more attention 
from the majority of breeders of horses, we venture 



44 The Horse Farrier. 

a few remarks in addition to Mr. Davis' method. The 
training of colts should commence at an early age. 
As they advance towards maturity they become more 
fixed in their habits, are more resolute in their temper, 
less able to be taught, and are able to offer greater 
resistance, and there is less danger of their injuring 
themselves or their trainer, by their efforts to free 
themselves from restraint. The training of a colt may 
commence before they are a month old, by handling, 
caressing, currying, and making a pet of them, tak- 
ing care to touch them only in such places as are 
agreeable to them, such as the back, jowls, and the un- 
der side of the neck, taking care to avoid the ears. 
A halter may be put on when three months old, one 
that will be impossible for them to break. Fasten it to 
the collar of the mare, and teach them to follow the 
mare thus early, being careful that they do not hang 
back on the halter. The habit once confirmed, it wiU 
be diflScult to break them of it. Let perfect kindness 
characterise aU your first efforts — reward every act of 
obedience, and bring them under perfect subjection. 

Of all the vicious habits which are found in horses, 
we believe nine-tenths are owing to unkind treatment, 
harsh usage, and improper management. 

A colt may be broken to do very light work in har- 
ness at two years old, but should not be backed, ex- 
cept by a small boy, until three, and a light man until 
four years old. When he becomes accustomed to the 
reins, a person may take hold of the traces and occas- 
ionally pull on them, teaching the colt to keep steadily 



Breaking of Colts. 45 

along, whether he feels any draught on his shoulders 
or not. When accustomed to this, he can be put in a 
sulkey, or beside another horse. See that every part 
of the harness is strong and perfect. All that now re_ 
mains is to teach him in his paces, and this is of much 
importance, as on the perfection of these depends his 
usefulness and value, and no pace is of more impor- 
tance than the walk. He should be thoroughly drilled 
in this before any attempt is made to push him to a 
trot. Keep every j^ace clear and distinct from the 
other. 

When walking, he should not be allowed to 
trot a few steps and then conmience his walk again. 
When trotting, as in walking, keep him steadily at his 
pace, and not allow him to slacken into a walk for a 
step or two. If you wish to make him a fast trotter, 
occasionally push him to his extreme speed, for a few 
moments at a time, and then reward him with kind 
and soothing words. 

CASTRATION. 

Youatt says of castration : " The period at which 
this operation may be best performed depends much 
on the breed and form of the colt, and the purpose for 
which he is destined. For the common agricultural 
horse the age of four or five months will be the most 
proper time, or, at least, before he is weaned. Few 
horses are lost when cut at that age. Care, however, 
should be taken that the weather is not too hot, nor 
the flies too numerous. 



46 The Horse Farrier. 

" If the horse is designed either for the carriage, or 
for heavy draught, the farmer should not think of cas- 
trating him until he is at least a twelvemonth old ; and, 
even then, the colt should be carefully examined. If 
he is thin and spare about the neck and shoulders, and 
low in the withers, he will materially improve by re- 
maining uncut another six months; but if his fore- 
quarters are fairly developed at the age of twelve 
months, the operation should not be delayed, lest he 
beoome heavy and gross before, and perhaps has be- 
gun too decidedly to have a will of his own. No 
specific age, then, can be fixed; but the castration 
should be performed rather late in the spring or early 
m the autumn, Avhen the air is temperate, and particu- 
larly when the weather is dry. 

" No preparation is necessary for the sucking colt, 
but it may be prudent to bleed and to physic one of 
more advanced age. In the majority of cases, no after 
treatment will be necessary, except that the animal 
should be sheltered from intense heat, and more par- 
ticularly from wet. In temperate weather, he will do 
much better running in the field, than nursed in a close 
and hot stable. The moderate exercise that he will 
take in grazing will be preferable to perfect inaction. 

"The old method of opening the scrotum (testicle bag) 
on either side, and cutting off the testicles, and pre- 
venting bleeding by a temporary compression of the 
vessels, wdiile they are seared with a hot iron, must 
not, perhaps, be abandoned ; but there is no necessity 
of that extra pain, when the spermatic cord (the blood 



Castration. 47 

vessels and the nerve) is compressed between two 
pieces of Avood as tightly as in a vice, and there left 
until the following day, or until the testicle drops off. 
The practice of twitching^ exposes the animal to much 
unnecessary pain, and is accompanied with consider- 
able danger. 

" Another method of castration is by Torsion. An 
incision is made into the scrotum, and the vas dif evens 
is exposed and divided. The artery is then seized by 
a pair of forceps, contrived for the purpose, and twisted 
six or seven times round. It retracts without untwist- 
ing the coils, and bleeding ceases. The most painful 
part of the operation — the operation of the firing-iron 
or the clams — is avoided, and the wound readily heals." 

All the pain and severe struggling may be prevented 
by the use of chloroform. With this assistance the whole 
performance can be accomplished in several minutes. It 
should be used with care. , 

HOW TO TAME WILD HOESES. 

The person of whom I obtained this receipt, paid 
Perry Plancher, the Arabian Horse tamer, $20 for it, 
and has been selling it through the country for $1,00. 
We have no faith in it. Take the warts from the leo:s 
dry and powder them, blovv^ up his nose, then take a 
few drops of the oil of arodium on your hand, and rub 
on his nose. 



CHAPTER III 



B. F. DAVIS' NEW METHOD OF TAMING WILD HOKSES. 



THREE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES. 

First. — That he is so constituted by nature that he 
will not offer resistance to any demand made of him, 
which he fully comprehends, if made in any way con- 
sistent with the laws of his nature. 

Second. — That he has no consciousness of his strength 
beyond his experience, and can be handled according 
to our will without force. 

Third. — That we can, in compliance with the laws 
of his nature, by which he examines all things new to 
him, take any object, however frightful, around, over 
or on liim, that does not inflict pain, without causing 
him to fear. 

To take these assertions in order, I will give you 

Firsts some of the reasons why I think he is natur- 
ally obedient, and will not offer resistance to anything 
fully comprehended. The horse, though possessed of 
some faculties superior to man's, being deficient in 
reasoning powers, has no knowledge of right or wrong, 
of free will and independent government, and knows 



FiKST Pkinciples. 49 

not of any imposition practiced upon him, however 
unreasonable these impositions may be. Consequently 
he cannot come to any decision what he should or 
should not do, because he has not tho reasoning facul- 
ties of man to argue the justice of the thing demanded 
of him. If he had, taking into consideration his super- 
ior strength, he would be useless to man as a servant. 
Give him mind in proportion to his strength, and he 
will demand of us the green field for his inheritance, 
where he will roam at leisure, denying the right of 
servitude at all. God has wisely formed his nature so 
that it can be operated upon by the knowledge of man 
according to the dictates of his will, and he might well 
be termed an unconscious, submissive servant. This 
truth we can see verified in every day's experience by 
the abuses practiced upon him. Any one who chooses 
to be so cruel, can mount the noble steed and run him 
till he drops with fatigue, or, as is often the case with the 
more spirited, falls dead beneath the rider. If he had 
power to reason, would he not vault and pitch his 
rider, rather than to suffer him to run him to death ? 
Or would he condescend to carry at all the vain im- 
postor, who, with but equal intellect, was trying to 
impose on his equal rights and equally independent 
spirit ? But, hapf)ily for us, he has no consciousness 
of imposition, no thought of disobedience, except by 
impulse caused by the violation of the law of his na- 
ture : consequently, when disobedient, it is the fault 
of man. 

Then we can but come to the conclusion that, if a 
horse is not taken in a way at variance with the laws 



50 The Horse Farrier. 

of his nature, he lYill do anything that he fully com- 
prehends without making any offer of resistance. 

Second — The fact of the horse being unconscious of 
the amount of his strength, can be proven to the sat- 
isfaction of any one. For instance, such remarks as 
these are common, and perhaps famihar to your re- 
collection. One person says to another, " If that wild 
horse there was conscious of the amount of his strength, 
his owner would have no business with him in that 
vehicle — such light reins and harness, too : if he knew, 
he could snap them asunder in a minute, and be as 
free as the air we breathe ; " and " that horse yonder, 
that is pawing and fretting to follow the company that 
is fast leaving him, if he knew his strength, he would 
not remain long fastened to that hitching-post, so much 
against his will, by a light rein, that would no more 
resist his powerful weight and strength, than a cotton 
thread would bind a strong man," 

Third — He will allow any object, however frightful 
in appearance, to come around, over or on him, that 
does not inflict pain. 

We know, from a natural course of reasoning, that 
there has never been an effect without a cause : and we 
infer from this that there can be no action, either in 
animate or 'inanimate matter, without there first being 
some cause to j^i'oduce it. And from this self-evident 
fact, we know there is some cause for every impulse 
or movement, of either mind or matter. Then, accord- 
imr to this theorv, there must be some cause before 
fear can exist ; and if fear exists from the effect of im- 
agination, and not from the infliction of real pain, it 
cannot be removed by complying with those laws of 



Third Principles. 51 

nature by wliicb the horse examines an object, and 
determmes upon its innocence or harm. 

A log or stump by the road-side may be, in the im- 
agination of the horse, some great beast about to 
pounce upon him ; but after you take him up to it, and 
let him stand by it a little while, and touch it with his 
nose, and go through his process of examination, he 
will not care anything more about it. And the same 
principle and process will have the same efiect Avith 
any other object, however frightful in appearance, in 
which there is no harm. Take a boy that has been 
frightened with a false face, or any other object that 
he could not comprehend at once, but let him take that 
face or object in his hands, and examine it, and he will 
not care anything more about it. This is a demonstra- 
tion of the same principle. 

With this introduction to the principles of my the- 
ory, I shall next attempt to teach you how to put it 
into practice, and whatever instructions may follow, 
you can rely on as having been proven practically by 
my own experiments. And knowing from experience 
just what obstacles I have met with in handUng bad 
horses, I shall try to anticipate them for you, and as- 
sist you in surmounting them, by commencing with 
tha first steps to be taken with the colt, and accom- 
pany you through the whole task of breaking. 

HOW TO SUCCEED IN GETTING THE COLT FKOM PASTURE. 

Go to the pasture, and walk around the whole herd 
quietly, and at such a distance as not to cause them to 
scare and run. Then approach them very slowly, and 
if they stick up their heads, and seem to be frightened, 



63 The Horse Farriek. 

hold on until they become quiet, so as not to make 
them run before you are close enough to drive them 
in the direction you want them to go. And when you 
begin to drive, do not flourish your arms, or halloo, 
but gently follow them ofl", leaving the direction free 
for them that you wish them to take. Thus taking 
advantage of their ignorance, you will be able to get 
them in the pound as easily as the hunter drives the 
quails into his net. For, if they have always run in 
the pasture uncared for, (as many horses do in prairie 
countries, and on large plantations,) there is no reason 
why they should not be as wild as the sportsman's 
birds, and require the same gentle treatment, if you 
want to get them without trouble ; for the horse, m 
his natural state, is as wild as any of the undomesti- 
cated animals, though more easily tamed than most of 
them. 

HOW TO STABLE A COLT WITHOUT TROUBLE. 

The next step will be, to get the horse into a stable 
or shed. This should be done as quietly as possible, 
BO as not to excite any suspicion in the horse of any 
danger befalling him. The best way to do this is to 
lead a gentle horse into the stable first, and hitch him ; 
then quietly walk around the colt, and let him go in 
of his own accord. It is almost impossible to get men 
who have never practiced on this principle, to go slow 
and considerate enough about it. They do not know 
that, in handling a wild horse, above all other things 
is that good old adage true, " haste makes waste ;" 
that is, waste of time, for the gain of trouble and per- 
plexity. 



Stabling Colts. 53 

One wrong move may frighten your horse, and 
make him think it necessary to escape at all hazards 
for the safety of his life, and thus make a two hours' 
ivork of a ten minutes' job ; and this would be all your 
fault, and entirely unnecessary; for he will not run 
unless you run after him, and that would not be good 
policy, unless you knew that you could outrun him ; 
for you will have to let him stop of his own accord af- 
ter all. But he will not try to break away, unless you 
attempt to force him into measures. If he does not 
see the way at once, and is a little fretful about going 
in, do not undertake to drive him, but give him a little 
less room outside, by gently closing in around him. 
Do not raise your arms, but let them hang at your 
side ; for you might as well raise a club. If he at- 
tempts to turn back, walk before him, but do not run ; 
and if he gets past you, encircle him again in the same 
quiet manner, and he will soon find that you are not 
going to hurt him ; and then you can walk so close 
around him that he will go into the stable for more 
room, and to get farther from you. As soon as he is 
in, remove the quiet horse and shut the door. This 
will be his first notion of confinement — not knowing 
how he got in such a place, nor how he got out of it. 
That he may take it as quietly as jDossible, see that the 
stable is entirely free from dogs, chickens, or anything 
that would annoy him ; then give him a few ears of 
corn, and let him remain alone fifteen or twenty min- 
utes, until he has examined his apartment, and has be- 
come reconciled to his confinement. 



54: The Hoese Farrier, 

the kind of halter. 

Always use a leather halter, and be sure to have it 
made so that it will not draw tight around his nose, 
if he pulls on it. It should be of the right size to fit 
his head easily and nicely, so that the nose-band will 
not be too tight or too low. Never put a rope halter 
on an unbroken colt, under any circumstances what- 
ever. They have caused more horses to hurt or kill 
themselves, than would pay for twice the cost of all 
leather halters that ever have been needed for the pur- 
pose of haltering colts. It is almost impossible to 
break a colt that is very wild with a rope halter, with- 
out having him pull, rear, and throw himself, and thus 
endanger his life ; and I v,-ill tell you w^hy. It is just 
as natural for a horse to try to get his head out of 
anything that hurts it, or feels unpleasant, as it would 
be for you to try to get your hand out of a fire. The 
cords of the rope are hard and cutting ; this makes 
him raise his head and draw on it, a sKp-noose, (the 
way the halters are always made,) tightens, and pinches 
his nose, and then he will struggle for life, until, per- 
chance, he throws himself; and who would have his 
horse throw himself, and run the risk of breaking his 
neck, rather than pay the price of a leather halter ? 
But this is not the worst. A horse that has once 
pulled on his halter, can never be as well broken as 
one that has never pulled at rJl. 

REMARKS ON THE HORSE. 

But before we attempt to do anything more with the 
colt, I will give you sonic of the characteristics of his 
nature, that you may better understand his motions. 



EXPKRBIENTS WITH THE RoBE. 55 

Every one that lias ever paid any attention to the 
horse, has noticed his natm-al inclination to smell of 
everything which to him looks new and frightful. This 
is their strange mod'e of examining everything. And, 
when they are frightened at anythmg, though they 
look at it sharply, they seem to have no confidence in 
this optical examination alone, but must touch it with 
the nose before they are entirely satisfied ; and as soon 
as this is done, all is right. 

EXPERIMENT WlTH THE ROBE. 

If you want to satisfy yourself of this characteristic 
of the horse, and learn something of importance con" 
cerning the peculiarities of his nature, etc., turn him 
into the barnyard, or a large stable v/iil do. And then 
gather up something that you know will frighten him ; 
a red blanket, buffalo robe, or something of that kind. 
Hold it up so that he can see it, he will stick up his 
head and snort. Then throw it down somewhere in 
the centre of the yard or barn, and walk ofi* to one side. 
Watch his motions, and study his nature. If he is 
frightened at the object, he will not rest until he has 
touched it^with his nose. You will see him begin to 
walk around the robe and snort, all the time getting a 
little closer, as if drawn up by some magic spell, until 
he finally gets within reach of it. He will then very 
cautiously stretch out his neck as far as he can reach, 
nearly touching it with his nose, as though he thought 
it was ready to fly at him. But after he has repeated 
these touches a few times, for the first, (though he has 
been looking at it all the time,) he seems to have an 
idea of what it is. But nov/ he has found, by the sense 



56 The Horse Fahrier. 

of feeling, that it is nothing that will do him any harm, 
and he is ready to play with it. 

Yet the horse is never so well satisfied when he is 
about anything that has frightened him, as when he is 
standing with his nose to it. And in nine cases out of 
ten, you will see some of that wild look about him 
again, as he turns to walk from it. And you will 
probably see ^him looking back very suspiciously as he 
walks away, as though he thought it might come after 
him yet. And in all probability, he will have to go 
back and make another examination before he is satis- 
fied. But he will familiarize himself with it, and if he 
should run in that yard a few days, the robe that fright- 
ened him so at first, will be no more to him than a 
familiar stump. 

SUPPOSITIONS ON THE SENSE OF SMELLING. 

We might very naturally suppose, from the fact of 
the horse's aj^plying his nose to everything new to 
him, that he always does so for the purpose of smelling 
these objects. But I believe that it is as much or more 
for the purpose of feeUng, and that he makes use of 
his nose, or muzzle, (as it is sometimes called,) as we 
would our hands ; because it is the only organ by which 
he can touch or feel anything with much susceptibihty. 

I beheve he invariably makes use of the four senses, 
seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling, in all of his ex- 
aminations, of which the sense of feefing is, perhaps, 
the most important. And we know from experience, 
that if a horse sees and smells a robe a short distance 
from him, he is very much frightened, (unless he is 
used to it,) until he touches or feels it with his nose ; 
which is a positive proof that feeling is the controlling 
sense in this case. 



Powel's System. 57 

powel's system of appkoaching the colt. 

But before we go further, I will give you Willis J. 
Powel's system of approaching a wild colt, as given by 
him in a work published in Europe, about the year 
1814, on the "Art of taming wild horses." He snys, 
" A horse is gentled by my secret in from two to six- 
teen hours. The time I have most commonly em- 
ployed has been from four to six hours." He goes on 
to say : " Cause your horse to be put in a small yard, 
stable, or room. If in a stable or room, it ought to be 
large, in order to give him some exercise with the hal- 
ter before you lead him out. If the horse belongs to 
that class which appears only to fear man, you must 
introduce yourself gently into the stable, room, or 
yard, where the horse is ; he will naturally run from 
you, and frequently turn his head from you ; but you 
must walk about extremely slow and softly, so that he 
can see you whenever he turns his head towards you, 
which he never fails to do in a short time, say in a 
quarter or half an hour. I never knew one to be much 
longer without turning towards me. 

'' At the very moment he turns his head, hold out 
your left hand towards him, and stand perfectly still, 
keeping your eyes upon the horse, watching his mo- 
tions, if he makes any. If the horse does not stir for 
ten or fifteen minutes, advance as slowly as possible, 
and without making the least noise, always holding out 
your left hand, without any other ingredient in it than 
what nature put in it." He says, " I have made use of 
certain ingredients before people, such as the sweat 
under my arm, etc., to disguise the real secret, and 
many beheved that the docihty, to which the horse ar- 
rived in so short a time, was owing to these ingredients ; 



58 The Hokse Farriek. 

but you see from this explanation that they were of 
no use whatever. The implicit faith placed in these 
ingredients, though innocent of themselves, becomes 
" faith without works." And thus men remained al- 
ways in doubt concerning the secret. If the horse 
makes the least motion when you advance towards 
him, stop, and remain perfectly still until he is quiet. 
Remain a few moments in this condition, and then ad- 
vance again in the same slow and almost imperceptible 
manner. Take notice ; if the horse stirs, stop, without 
changing your position. It is very uncommon for the 
horse to stir more than once after you begin to advance, 
yet there are exceptions. He generally keeps his eyes 
steadfast on you, until you get near enough to touch 
him on the forehead. When you are thus near to him, 
raise, slowly, and by degrees, your hand, and let it 
come in contact with that part just above the nostrils 
as lightly as possible. If the horse flinches, (as many 
will,) repeat with great rapidity these Ught strokes 
upon the forehead, going a Uttle further up towards 
his ears by degrees, and descending with the same ra- 
l^idity until he will let you handle his forehead all over. 
Now let the strokes be repeated with more force over 
all his forehead, until you can handle that part with 
equal facility. Then touch in the same light manner, 
making your hands and lingers play around the lower 
part of the horse's ears, coming down now and then 
to his forehead, which may be looked upon as the 
helm that governs all the rest. 

"Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance 
towards the neck, with the same precautions, and in 
the same manner ; observing always to augment the 



Handling the Colt. 59 

force of the strokes whenever the horse will permit it. 
Perform the same on both sides of the neck, until he 
lets you take it in your arms without flinching. 

" Proceed in the same progressive manner to the 
sides, and then to the back of the horse. Every time 
the horse shows any nervousness, return immediately 
to the forehead as the true standard, patting him with 
your hands, and from thence rapidly to where you had 
already arrived, always gaining ground a considerable 
distance farther on, every time this happens. The 
head, ears, neck, and body being thus gentled, proceed 
from the neck to the root of the tail. 

" This must be managed with dexterity, as a horse 
is never to be depended on that is skittish about the 
tail. Let your hand fall lightly and rapidly on that 
part next to the body a minute or two, and then you 
will begin to give it a slight pull upwards every quar- 
ter of a minute. At the same time you continue this 
handling of him, augment the force of the strokes as 
well as the raising of the tail, until you can raise it 
and handle it with the greatest ease, which commonly 
happens in a quarter of an hour in most horses, in oth- 
ers almost immediately, and in some much longer. It 
now remains to handle all his legs ; from the tail come 
back again to the head, handle it well, as likewise the 
ears, breast, neck, etc., speaking now and then to the 
horse. Begin by degrees to descend to the legs, al- 
ways ascending and descending, gaining ground every 
time you descend, mitil you get to his feet. 

" Talk to the horse ; let him hear the sound of your 
voice, which at the beginning of the operation is not 
quite so necessary, but which I have always done in 



30 The Horse Fareier. 

making him lift up his foot. 'Hold up your foot' — at 
the same time hft his foot with your left hand. He 
soon becomes familiar with the sounds, and will hold 
up his foot at command. Then proceed to the hind 
feet, and go on in the same manner ; and in a short 
time the horse will let you lift them and even take 
them in your arms. 

" All this operation is no magnetism, no galvanism ; 
it is merely taking away the fear a horse generally has 
of a man, and familiarizing the animal with his master ; 
as the horse doubtless experiences a certain pleasure 
from this handUng, he will soon become gentle under 
it, and show a very marked attachment to his keeper." 

REMARKS ON POWEL'S TREATMENT HOW TO GOVERN 

HORSES OF ANY KIND. 

These instructions are very good, but not quite suf- 
ficient for horses of all kinds, and for haltering and 
leading the colt ; but I have inserted it here because 
it gives some of the true philosophy of approaching 
the horse, and of establishing confidence between man 
and horse. He speaks only of the kind that fear man. 

To those who understand the philosophy of horse- 
manship, these are the easiest trained ; for when we 
have a horse that is wild and lively, we can train him 
to our will in a very short time ; for they are generally 
quick to learn, and always ready to obey. But there 
is another kind that are of a stubborn or vicious dis- 
position, and although they are not wild, and do not 
require taming, m the sense it is generally understood, 
they are just as ignorant as a wild horse, if not more 
so, and need to be learned just as much ; and in order 
to have them obey quickly, it is very necessary that 



Governing tiie Horse. 61 

they should be made to fear then* master ; for, in order 
to obtain perfect obedience from any horse, we must 
first have him fear us, for our motto is, Feai\ love^ and 
obey ; and we must have the fulfillment of the first 
two, before we can expect the latter, and it is by our 
philosophy of creating fear, love and confidence, that 
we govern to our will every kind of horse whatever. 

Then, in order to take horses as we find them, of all 
kinds, and to train them to our liking, we will alwasy 
take with us when we go into a stable to train a colt, 
a long switch whip, (whalebone buggy whips are the 
best, (with a good silk cracker, so as to cut keen and 
make a sharp report, which, if handled with dexterity, 
and rightly applied, accompanied with a sharp, fierce 
word, will be sufficient to enliven the spirits of any horse. 

With this whip in your right hand, with the lash 
opinting backward, enter the stable alone. It is a 
great disadvantage in training a horse, to have any 
one in the stable with you ; you should be entirely 
alone, so as to have nothing but yourself to attract his 
attention. If he is wild, you will soon see him in the 
opposite side of the stable from you ; and now is the 
time to use a little judgment. I Avould not want, for 
myself, more than half or three-quarters of an hour 
to handle any kind of a colt, and have him runnmg 
about in the stable after me ; though I would advise a 
new beginner to take more time, and not be in too 
much of a hurry. If you have but one colt to gentle, 
and are not particular about the length of time you 
spend, and have not had any experience in handHng 
colts, I would advise you to take Mr. Powel's method at 
first, till you gentle him, which, he says, takes from two 
to six hours. 



62 TuE Horse Farkiek. 

But as I want to accom2:)lish the same, and what is 
much more, learn the horse to lead m less than one 
hour, I shall give you a much quicker process of ac- 
complishing the same end. Accordingly, when you 
have entered the stable, stand still and let your horse 
look at you a minute or two ; and as soon as he is set- 
tled in one place, approach him slowly, with both 
arms stationary, your right hanging by your side, hold- 
ing the whip as directed, and the left bent at the elbow, 
with your right hand projectmg. As you approach 
him, go not too much towards his head or croup, so as 
not to make him move, either forward or backward, 
thus keeping your horse stationary ; if he does move 
a little, forward or backward, step a little to the right 
or left very cautiously ; this will keep him in one place. 
As you get very near him, draw a little to his shoulder, 
and stop a few seconds. If you are in his reach he 
•will turn his head and smell of your hand, not that he 
has any preference for your hand, but because that is 
projecting, and is the nearest portion of your body to 
the horse. This all colts will do ; and they ^vdll smell 
of your naked hand just as quick as of anything that 
you can put in it, and with just as good an effect, how- 
ever much some men may have preached the doctrine 
of tammg horses by giving them the scent of articles 
from the hand. I have already proved that to be a 
mistake. As soon as he touches his nose to your hand, 
caress him as before directed, always using a very light, 
soft hand, merely touching the horse, always rubbing 
the way the hair lies, so that your hand will pass along 
as smoothly as possible. As you stand by his side you 
may find it more convenient to rub his neck, or the 



Learning the IIokse to Lead. 63 

side of his head, which will answer the same purpose 
as rubbing his forehead. Favor every inclination of 
the horse to smell or touch you with his nose. Always 
follow each touch or communication of this kind with 
the most tender and affectionate caresses, accompanied 
with a kind look, and pleasant word of some sort, such 
as, " Ho ! my little boy, ho ! my little boy, pretty boy, 
nice lady ! " or something of that kind, constantly re- 
peating the same words, with the same kind, steady 
tone of voice ; for the horse soon learns to read the 
expression of the face and voice, and will know as well 
when fear, love or anger prevails, as you know your 
own feelings ; two of which, fear and anger ^ a good 
horseman should never feel. 

HOW TO PROCEED IF TOUR HORSE IS OF A STUBBORN 
DISPOSITION. 

If your horse, instead of being wild, seems to be of 
a stubborn or mulish disposition ; if he lays back his 
ears as you approach him, or turns his heels to kick 
you, he has not that regard or fear of man that he 
should have, to enable you to handle him quickly and 
easily ; and it might be well to give him a few sharp 
cuts with the whip, about his legs, pretty close to the 
body. It will crack keen as it plies around his legs, 
and the crack of the whip will affect him as much as 
the stroke ; besides, one sharp cut about his legs will 
affect him more than two or three over his back, the 
skin on the inner part of his legs or about his flank be- 
ing thinner, more tender than on his back. But do 
not whip him much, just enough to scare him, it is not 
because we want to hurt the horse that we whip him, 



64 The Horse Farrier. 

we only do it to scare that bad disposition out of him. 
But whatever you do, do quickly, sharply, and with 
a good deal of fire, but always without anger. If you 
are going to scare him at all, you must do it at once. 
Never go into a pitch battle with your horse, and 
whip him until he is mad, and will fight you ; you had 
better not touch him at all, for you will establish in- 
stead of fear and regard, feelings of resentment, ill- 
will and hatred. It will do him no good, but an injury, 
to strike a blow, unless you can scare him ; but if you 
succeed in scaring him, you can whip him without 
making him mad ; for fear and anger never exist to- 
gether in the horse, and as soon as one is visible, you 
will find that the other has disappeared. As soon as 
you have frightened him so that he will stand up 
straight, and j)ay some attention to you, approach 
him again, and caress him a good deal more than you 
whipped him, then you will excite the two controlling 
passions of his nature, love and fear, and then he Avill 
love and fear you too, and as soon as he learns what 
to do, will obey quickly. 

HOW TO HALTER AND LEAD A COLT. 

As soon as you have gentled the colt a httle, take 
the halter in your left hand and approach him as be- 
fore, and on the same side that you have gentled him. 
If he is very timid about your approaching closely to 
him, you can get up to him quicker by making the 
whip a part of your arm, and reaching out very gent- 
ly with the butt end of it ; rubbing him Hghtly on the 
neck, all the time getting a little closer, shortening the 
whip by taking it up in your hand, until you finally 
get close enough to put your hands on him. If he is 



Stubborn Disposition. 65 

inclined to hold his head from you, put the end of the 
halter strap around his neck, drop your whip, and draw 
very gently ; he will let his neck give, and you can pull 
his head to you. Then take hold of that part of the 
halter which buckles over the top of his head, and pass 
the long side, or that part which goes into the buckle, 
under his neck, grasping it on the opposite side with 
your right hand, letting the first strap loose — the lat- 
ter will be sufficient to hold his head to you. Lower 
the halter a little, just enough to get his nose into that 
part which goes around it, then raise it somewhat, and 
fasten the toj) buckle, and you will have it all right. 
The first time you halter a colt you should stand on 
the left side, pretty well back to his shoulder, only 
taking hold of that part of the halter which goes 
around his neck, then with your two hands about his 
neck you can hold his head to you, and raise the hal- 
ter on it without making him dodge by putting your 
hands about his nose. You should have a long rope 
or strap ready, and as soon as you have the halter on, 
attach this to it, so that you can let him walk the 
length of the stable without letting go of the strap, 
or without making him pull on the halter, for if you 
only let him feel the weight of your hand on the hal- 
ter, and give him rope when he runs from you, he will 
never rear, pull, or throw himself, yet you will be hold- 
ing him all the time, and dokig more towards gentling 
him than if you had the power to snub him right up, 
and hold him to one spot ; because he does not know 
anything about his strength, and if you don't do any- 
thing to make him pull, he will never know that he 
can. In a few minutes you can begin to control him. 



6Q The Hokse Farrier. 

with the halter, then shorten the distance between 
yourself and the horse, by taking up the strap in your 
hand. 

As soon as he will allow you to hold him by a toler- 
ably short strap, and step up to him without flying 
back, you can begin to give him some idea about lead- 
ing. But to do this, do not go before and attempt to 
pull him after you, but commence by pulling him very 
quietly to one side. He has nothing to brace either 
side of his neck, and wUl soon yield to a steady, grad- 
ual pull of the halter ; and as soon as you have pulled 
him a step or two to one side, step up to him and ca- 
ress him, and then pull him again, repeating this oper- 
ation until you can pull him around in every direction, 
and walk about the stable with him, which you can do 
in a few minutes, for he will soon think when you have 
made him step to the right or left a few times, that he 
is compelled to follow the pull of the halter, not know- 
ing that he has the power to resist your pulling ; be- 
sides you have handled him so gently that he is not 
afi-aid of you, and you always caress him when he 
comes up to you, and he likes that, and would just as 
leave follow you as not. And after he has had a few 
lessons of that kind, if you turn him out in a lot he 
will come up to you every opportunity he gets. You 
should lead him about in the stable some time before 
you take him out, opening the door, so that he can 
see out, leading him up to it and back again, and past 
it. See that there is nothing on the outside to make 
him jump when you take him but, arid as you go out 
with him, try to make him go very slowly, catching hold 
of the halter close to the jaw with your left hand, 



I 



\ 



Leading Colts. 67 

while the right is resting on the top of his neck, hold- 
ing to his mane. After you are out vritii him a little 
while, you can lead him about as you please. Don't 
let any second person come up to you when you first 
take him out ; a stranger taking hold of the halter 
would frighten him, and make him run. There should 
not even be any one standing near him to attract his 
attention, or scare him. If you are alone, and manage 
him right, it will not require any more force to lead 
or hold him than it would to manage a broke horse. 

HOW TO LEAD A COLT BY THE SIDE OF A BROKE 
HORSE. 

If you should want to lead your colt by the side of 
another horse, as is often the case, I would advise you 
to take your horse into the stable, attach a second 
strap to the colt's halter, and lead up your horse along 
side of him. Then get on the broke horse and take 
one strap around his breast, under his martingale, (if 
he has one on,) holding it in your left hand. This will 
prevent the colt from getting back too far ; besides, 
you will have more power to hold him, with the strap 
pulling against the horse's breast. The other strap 
take up in your right hand, to prevent him from run- 
ning ahead ; then turn him about a few times in the 
stable, and if the door is wide enough, ride out with 
him in that position ; if not, take the broke horse out 
first, and stand his breast up against the door, then 
lead the colt to the same spot, and take the straps as 
before directed, one on each side of his neck, then let 
some one start the colt out, and as he comes out, turn 
your horse to the left, and you will have them all 
right. This is the best way to lead a colt ; you can 



68 The Horse Farrier. 

manage any kind of a colt in this way without any 
trouble, for, if he tries to run ahead, or pull back, the 
two straps will bring the horses facing each other, so 
that you can very easily follow up his movements with- 
out doing much holding, and as soon as he stops run- 
ning backward, you are right with him, and ready to 
go ahead. And if he gets stubborn, and does not 
want to go, you can remove all his stubbornness by 
riding your horse against his neck, thus compelling 
him to turn to the right, and as soon as you have 
turned him about a faw times, he will be willing to go 
along. The next thing, after you are through leading 
him, will be to take him into a stable, and hitch him in 
such a way as not to have him pull on the halter, and 
as they are often very troublesome to get into a stable 
the first few times, I will give you some instructions 
about getting him in. 

HOW TO LEA.D A COLT INTO THE STABLE AND HITCH 
HIM WITHOUT HAVING HIM PULL ON THE HALTER. 

You should lead the broke horse mto the stable first, 
and get the colt, if you can, to follow in after him. If 
he refuses to go, step up to him, taking a little stick 
or switch in your right hand ; then take hold of the 
halter close to his head with your left hand, at the 
same time reaching over his back with your right arm, 
so that you can tap him on the opposite side with your 
switch ; bring him up facing the door, tap him lightly 
with your switch, reaching as far back as you can. 
This tapping, by being pretty well back, and on the 
opposite side, will drive him ahead, and keep him close 
to you, then by giving him the right direction with 
your left hand you can walk into the stable with him. 



Pulling on the Halter. 69 

I have walked colts into the stable this way, in less 
than a minute, after men had worked at them half an 
hour trying to pull them. If you cannot walk with 
him at once in this way, turn him about and walk him 
around in every direction, until you can get him up to 
the door without pulling at him. Then let him stand 
a few minutes, keeping his head in the right direction 
with the halter, and he will walk in, in less than ten 
minutes. Never attempt to pull the colt into the stable ; 
that would make him think at once that it was a dan- 
gerous place, and if he was not afraid of it before, he 
would be then. Besides we don't want him to know 
anything about pulling on the halter. Colts are often 
hurt, and sometimes killed, by trying to force them 
into the stable ; and those who attempt to do it in that 
way, go into an up-hill business, when a plain, smooth 
road is before them. 

If you want to hitch your colt, put him in a tolera- 
bly wide stall, which should not be too long, and should 
be connected by a bar or something of that kind to 
the partition behind it ; so that after the colt is in, he 
cannot get far enough back to take a straight back- 
ward pull on the halter ; then by hitching him in the 
centre of the stall, it would be impossible for him to 
pull on the halter, the partition behind preventing him 
from going back, and the halter in the centre checking 
him every time he turns to the right or left. In a stall 
of this kind you can break every horse to stand hitched 
by a light strap, any where, without his knowing any- 
thing about pulling. But if you have broke your 
horse to lead, and have learned him to use the halter, 
(which you should always do before you hitch him to 



TO The Hokse Farriee. 

anything,) you can hitch him iu any kind of a stall and 
give him something to eat to keep him up to his place 
for a few minutes at first, and there is not one colt out 
of fifty that will pull on his halter. 

THE KIND OF BIT, AND HOW TO ACCUSTOM A HORSE 
TO IT. 

You should use a large, smooth, snaffle bit, so as 
not to hurt his mouth, with a bar on each side to pre- 
vent the bit from pulling through either way. This 
you should attach to the head-stall of your bridle and 
put it on your colt without any rems to it, and let him 
run loose in a large stable or shed some time, until he 
becomes a little used to the bit, and will bear it with- 
out trying to get it out of his mouth. It would be 
well, if convenient, to repeat this several times before 
you do anything more with the colt ; as soon as he 
will bear the bit, attach a single rein to it, without any 
martingale. You should also have a halter on your 
colt, or a bridle made after the fashion of a halter, 
with a strap to it, so that you can hold or lead him 
about without pulling on the bit much. He is now 
ready for the saddle. 

HOW TO SADDLE A COLT. 

Any one man, who has this theory, can put a saddle 
on the wildest colt that ever grew, without any help, 
and without scaring him. The first thing will be to 
tie each stirrup strap into a loose knot to make them 
short, and prevent the stirrups from flying about and 
hittmg him. Then double up the skirts and take the 
saddle under your right arm, so as not to frighten him 
with it as you approach. When you get to him, rub 



Stabling Colts. 71 

him gently a few times with your hand, and then raise 
the saddle very slowly, until he can see it, and smell, and 
feel it with liis nose. Then let the skirts loose, and rub 
it very gently against the neck the way the hair lays, let- 
ting him hear the rattle of the skirts as he feels them 
against him, each time getting a little farther backward, 
and finally slip it over his shoulders on his back. Shake 
it a little with your hand, and in less than five minutes 
you can rattle it over his back as much as you please, and 
pull it off and throw it on again, without his paymg 
much attention to it. 

As soon as you have accustomed him to the saddle, 
fasten the girth. Be careful how you do this. It often 
frightens the colt when he feels the girth binding him, 
and making the saddle fit tight on his back. You 
should bring up the girth very gently, and not draw it 
too tight at first, just enough to hold the saddle on. 
Move him a little, and then girth it as tight as you 
choose, and he will not mind it. 

You should see that the pad of your saddle is all 
right before you put it on, and that there is nothing to 
make it hurt him, or feel unpleasant to his back. It 
should not have any loose straps on the back part of 
it, to flap about and scare him. After you have sad- 
dled him in this way, take a switch in your right hand, 
to tap him up with, and walk about in the stable a few 
times with your right arm over your saddle, taking 
hold of the reins on each side of his neck, with your 
right and left hands ; thus marching him about in the 
stable until you learn him the use of the bridle, and 
can turn him about in any direction, and stop him by a 
gentle pull of the rein. Always caress him, and loose 
the reins a Httle every time you stop him. 



72 The Horse Farrier. 

You should always be alone, and have your colt in 
some tight stable or shed, the first time you ride him ; 
the loft should be high, so that you can sit on his back 
without endangering your head. You can learn him 
more in two hours' time in a stable of this kind, than 
you could in two weeks in the common way of break- 
ing colts, out in an open place. If you follow my 
course of treatment, you need not run any risk, or have 
any trouble in riding the worst kind of a horse. You 
must take him a step at a time, until you get up a mutual 
confidence and trust between yourself and horse. First 
learn to be lead and stand hitched ; next, acquaint him 
with the saddle and the use of the bit, and then all 
that remains is to get on without scaring liim, and you 
can ride him as w^ell as any horse. 

HOW TO MOUNT THE COLT. 

First, gentle him well on both sides, about the sad- 
dle, and all over, until he will stand still -without hold- 
ing, and is not afraid to see you anywhere about him. 

As soon as you have him thus gentled, get a small 
block, about one foot or eighteen inches in height, and 
set it dowm by the side of him, about where you want 
to stand to mount him ; step up on this, raising your- 
self very gently ; horses notice every change of position 
very closely, and, if you were to step suddenly on the 
block, it would be very aj)t to scare him ; but, by 
raising yourself gradually on it, he will see you with- 
out being frightened, in a position very near the same 
as when you are on his back. 

As soon as he will bear this without alarm, untie the 
stirrup-strap next to you, and put your left foot into 
the stirrup, and stand square over it, holding your knee 



How TO Mount a Colt. 73 

against the horse, and your toe out, so as not to touch 
him under the shoulder with the toe of your boot. 
Place your right hand on the front of the saddle, and 
on the opposite side of you, taking hold of a portion 
of the mane and reins, as they hang loosely over the 
neck, with your left hand ; then gradually bear your 
weight on the stirrup, and on your right hand, until 
the horse feels your whole weight on the saddle. Re- 
peat this several times, each time raising yourself a lit- 
tle higher from the block, until he will allow you to 
raise your leg over his croup and place yourself in the 
saddle. 

There are three great advantages in having a block 
to mount from. First, a sudden change of position is 
very apt to frighten a young horse who has never been 
handled. He will allow you to walk up to him and 
stand by his side without scaring at you, because you 
have gentled him to that position, but if you get down 
on your hands and knees and crawl towards him, he 
will be very much frightened; and upon the same 
2)rinciple, he would frighten at your new position if you 
had the power to hold yourself over his back without 
touching him. Then, the first great advantage of the 
block is to gradually gentle him to that new position 
in which he will see you when you ride him. 

Secondly, by the process of leaning your weight in 
the stirrups, and on your hand, you can gradually ac- 
custom him to your weight, so as not to frighten him 
by having him feel it all at once. And, in the third 
place, the block elevates you so that you ^vill not have 
to make a spring in order to get on the horse's back, 
but from it you can gradually raise yourself into the 



74: The Hoese Faerier. 

saddle. When you take these precautions, there is no 
horse so wild but you can mount him without making 
him jump. I have tried it on the worst horses that 
could be found, and have never failed in any case. 
When mounting, your horse should always stand with- 
out being held. A horse is never well broke when he 
has to be held vath a tight rein when mounting ; and 
a colt is never so safe to mount, as when you see that 
assurance of confidence and absence of fear which 
causes him to stand without holding. 

HOW TO EIDE A COLT. 

When you want him to start, do not touch him on 
the side with your heel, or do anything to frighten 
him and make him jump ; but speak to him kindly, and 
if he does not start, pull him a little to the left until 
he starts, and then let him walk off slowly with the 
reins loose. Walk him around in the stable a few 
times until he gets used to the bit, and you can turn 
him about in every direction and stop him as you please. 
It would be well to get on and off a good many times, 
untU he gets perfectly used to it, before you take him 
out of the stable. 

After you have trained him in this way, which should 
not take more than one or two hours, you can ride him 
anywhere you choose without ever having him jump or 
make an effort to throw you. 

When you first take him out of the stable, be very 
gentle with him, as he will feel a little more at liberty 
to jump or run, and be a little easier frightened than 
he was while in the stable. But after handling him so 
much in the stable, he will be pretty well broke, and 



How TO Rid?: A Colt. 



7.-) 



you will be able to manage him without trouble or 
danger. 

When you first mount him, take a little the shortest 
hold of the left rein, so that if anything frightens liim, 
you can iDrevent him from jumping by pulling his head 
around to you. This operation of j^ulling a horse's 
head around against his side, will j^revent any horse 
from jumping ahead, rearing up, or running away. If 
he is stubborn and will not go, you can make him 
move by pulling his head around to one side, when 
whippmg would have no effect. And turning around 
a few times will make him dizzy, and then by letthig 
him have his head straight, and giving him a little 
touch with the whip, he will go along without any 
trouble. 

ISTever use martingales on a colt when you first ride 
him ; every movement of the hand should go right to 
the bit, in the direction in which it is applied to the 
reins, without a martingale to change the direction of 
the force applied. You can guide the colt much bet- 
ter without them, and learn him the use of the bit in 
much less time. Besides, martingales would prevent 
you from pulling his head around if he should try to 
jump. 

After the colt has been rode until he is srentle and 
well accustomed to the bit, you may find it an advan- 
tage if he carries his head too high, or his nose too far 
out, to put martingales on him. 

You should be careful not to ride your colt so far at 
first as to heat, worry or tire him. Get off as soon as 
you see he is a little fatigued ; gentle him and let him 
rest ; this will make him kind to you, and prevent him 
from getting stubborn or mad. 



Y6 The Horse Farrier. 

THE PROPER WAY TO BIT A COLT. 

Farmers often put a bitting harness on a colt the 
first thing they do with him, buckhng up the bitting 
as tight as they can draw it, to make him carry his 
head higli, and then turn him out in a lot to run a half 
day at a time. This is one of the worst punishments 
that they could inflict on a colt, and very injurious to 
a young horse that has been used to running in pasture 
■with his head down. I have seen colts so injured in 
this way that they never got over it. 

A horse should be well accustomed to the bit before 
you put on the bitting harness, and when you first bit 
him you should only rein his head up that point where 
he naturally holds it, let that be high or low ; he will 
soon learn that he cannot lower his head, and that 
raising it a little will loosen the bit in his mouth. This 
will give him the idea of raising his head to loosen the 
bit, and then you can draw the bitting a little tighter 
every time you put it on, and he will still raise his head 
to loosen it; by this means you will gradually get his 
head and neck in the position you want him to carry 
it, and give him a nice graceful carriage without hurt- 
ing him, making him mad, or causing his mouth to get 
sore. 

If you put the bitting on very tight the first time, 
he cannot raise his head enough to loosen it, but will 
bear on it all the time, and paw, sweat, and throw 
himself. Many horses have been killed by falling back- 
ward with the bitting on ; their heads being drawn up, 
strike the ground with the whole weight of the body. 
Horses that have their heads drawn up tightly should 
not have the bitting on more than fifteen or twenty 
minutes at a time. 



Yicious Habits. 77 

HOW TO DRIVE A HOKSE THAT IS VEEY WILD AND 
HAS ANY VICIOUS HABITS. 

Take up one fore foot and bend his knee till his hoof 
is bottom upwards, and nearly touching his body, then 
slip a loop over his knee, and up until it comes above 
the pastern joint to keep it up, being careful to draw 
the loop together between the hoof and pastern joint 
with a second strap of some kind, to j^revent the loop 
from slipping down and coming off. This will leave the 
horse standing on three legs ; you can now handle him 
as you wish, for it is utterly imj^ossible for him to kick 
in this position. There is something in this operation 
of taking up one foot that conquers a horse quicker 
and better than anything else you can do to him. There 
is no process in the world equal, to break a kicking 
horse, for several reasons. First, there is a principle 
of this kind in the nature of the horse, that by con- 
quering one member you conquer, to a great extent, 
the whole horse. 

You have, perhaps, seen men operate upon this prin- 
ciple by sewing a horse's ears together to prevent him 
from kicking. I once saw a plan given in a newspaper 
to make a bad horse stand to be shod, which was to 
fasten down one ear. There was no reason given why 
you should do so ; but I tried it several times, and 
thought it had a good eifect — though I would not 
recommend its use, especially stitching his ears togeth- 
er. The only banefit arising from this process is, that 
by disarranging his ears we draw his attention to them, 
and he is not so apt to resist the shoeing. By tying 
up one foot we operate on the same principle, to a 
much better effect. When you first fasten up a horse's 



78 The Hoese Faeriee. 

foot, he will sometimes get very mad, and strike with 
his knee, and try every possible way to get it down ; 
but he cannot do that, and will soon give up. 

This will conquer him better than anything you could 
do, and without any possible danger of hurting himself, 
or you either, for you can tie up his foot and sit down 
and look at him until he gets up. When you find tliat 
he is conquered, go to him, let down his foot, rub his 
leg with your hand, and let him rest a little, then put 
it up again. Repeat this a few times, always putting 
up the same foot, and he will soon learn to travel on 
three legs so that you can drive him some distance. 
As soon as he gets a httle used to this way of travel- 
hng, put on your harness, and hitch him to a sulky. 
If he is the worst kicking horse that ever raised a foot 
you need not be fearful of his doing any damage while 
he has one foot up, for he cannot kick, neither can he 
run fast enough to do any harm. And if he is the 
wildest horse that ever had harness on, and has run 
away every time he has been hitched, you can now 
hitch him in a sulky and drive him as you please. And 
if he wants to run, you can let him have the lines, and 
whip too, with perfect safety, for he can go but a slow 
gait on three legs, and will soon be tired and willing to 
stop ; only hold him enough to guide him in the right 
direction, and he will soon be tired, and willing to stop 
at the word. Thus you will effectually cure him at 
once of any further notion of running oft". Kicking 
horses have always been the dread of everybody ; you 
always hear men say, when they speak about a bad 
horse, " I don't care what he does, so he don't kick." 
This new method is an elfective cure for this worst of 



Kicking Horses. 79 

all habits. There are plenty of ways by which you 
can hitch a kicking horse, and force him to go, though 
he kicks all the time ; but this don't have any good 
effect towards breaking him, for we know that horses 
kick because they are afraid of what is behind them, 
and Yvdien they kick against it and it hurts them, they 
will only kick the harder, and this will hurt them still 
more, and make them remember the scrape much longer, 
and make it still more difficult to persuade them to 
have any confidence in anything dragging behind them 
ever after. 

By this new method you can hitch them to a rattling 
sulky, plow, wagon, or anything else in its worst shape. 
They m?y be frightened at first, but cannot kick, or 
do anything to hurt themselves, and will soon find that 
you do not intend to hurt them, and then they will not 
care anything more about it. You can then let down 
the leg, and drive along gently without any further 
trouble. By this new process a bad kicking horse can 
be learned to go gentle in harness in a few hours time. 

ox BALKING. 

Horses know nothing about balking, only as they are 
brought into it by improper management ; and when a 
horse balks in harness, it is generally from some mis- 
management, excitement, confusion, or from not know- 
ing how to pull, but seldom from any unwillingness to 
perform all that he understands. High spirited, free- 
going horses, are the most subject to balking, and only 
so because drivers do not properly imderstand how to 
manage this kind. A free horse in a team may be so 
anxious to go, that when he hears the word he will 



80 The Horse Farriek. 

start with a jump, which will not move the load, but 
give him such a severe jerk on the shoulders, that he 
will fly back and stop the other horse ; the teamster 
will continue his driving without any cessation, and by 
the time he has the slow horse started again, he will 
find the free horse has made another jump, and again 
flew back ; and now he has them both badly balked, 
and so confused that neither of them knows what is the 
matter, or how to start the load. Next will come the 
slashing and crashing of the whip, and hallooing of the 
driver till something is broken, or he is through with 
his course of treatment. But what a mistake the 
driver commits by whipping his horse for this act ! 
Reason and common sense should teach him that the 
horse was willing and anxious to go, but did not now 
how to start the load. And should he whip him for 
that ? If so, he should whip him again for not know- 
ing how to talk. A man that wants to act with any 
rationality or reason, should not fly into a passion, but 
should always think before he strikes. It takes a steady 
pressure against the collar to move a load, and you can- 
not expect him to act with a steady, determined pur- 
pose while you are whipping him. There is hardly one 
balking horse in five hundred that will pull true from 
whipping ; it is only adding fuel to fire, and Avill make 
them more liable to balk another time. You always 
see horses that have been balked a few times, turn their 
heads and look back, as soon as they are a little frus- 
trated. This is because they have been whi23ped, and 
are afraid of what is behind them. This is an invari- 
able rule with balked horses, just as much as it is for 



Balking. 81 

them to look around at their sides when they have the 
bots. In either case, they are deserving of the same 
sympathy, and the same kind, rational treatment. 

When your horse balks, or is a little excited, if he 
wants to start quickly, or looks around, and don't w:int 
to go, there is something wrong, and he needs kind 
treatment immediately. Caress him kindly, and if he 
don't understand at once what you want him to do, 
he will not be so much excited as to jump and break 
things, and do every thing wrong through fear. — 
As long as you are calm, and can keep down the ex- 
citement of the horse, there are ten chances to have 
him understand you, where there would not be one un- 
der hai'sh treatment, and then the little flare-up would 
not carry with it any unfavorable recollections, and he 
would soon forget all about it, and learn to pull true. 
Almost every wrong act the horse commits, is from 
mismanagement, fear or excitment : one harsh word 
will so excite a nervous horse as to increase his pulse 
ten beats in a minute.* 



*Remabks. — In the first place, never teach your horse to balk, by giving him a 
greater load than he can carry, or requiring him to go up too steep a hill without 
permitting him to stop. If you tell him to stop, in going up a steep hill, it is 
better than to allow him to do it of his own accord. If he finds he can stop of 
his own will, and start when he pleases, he' will soon learn to do it when he 
ought not to. If at any time he stops without your stopping him, give him a 
sharp cut, and make him go on, even if you think he ought to stop at that very 
place ; but soon yourself give him an opportunity to stop. This will teach him 
that he is to stop only at your will, and that you are not unreasonable in your 
demands. I believe that all balky horses are in the first instance taught to 
balk by their careless and inconsiderate owners, who overload them, and allow 
them to stop or go according to their own will. Once a horse finds he can stop 
at will without reproof, he will stop, perhaps, on a smooth road, or in the mid- 
dle of a village, or on the street of a city, whore you will be mortified as well aa 
discommoded. 



82 The Horse Farkier. 

When we remember that we are dealing with dumb 
brutes, and reflect how difficult it must be for them to 
understand our motions, signs and language, we should 
never get out of patience with them, because they 
don't understand us, or wonder at their doing things 
wrong. With all our intellect, if we were placed in 
the horse's situation, it would be difficult for us to un- 
derstand the driving of some foreigner, of foreign ways 
and foreign language. We should always recollect 
that our ways and language are unknown to the horse, 
and should try to practice what we could understand, 
were we the horse, endeavoring by some simple means 
to work on his understanding rather than on the dif- 
ferent parts of his body. All balked horses can be 
started true and steady in a few minutes' time : they 
are willing to pull as soon as they know how, and I 
never yet found a balked horse that I could not teach 
to start his load in fifteen, and often less than three 
minutes' time. 

Almost any team, when first balked, will start kind- 



Before resorting to sttvere means the cause should be ascertained. The horse 
may be overtaxed, his withers may be wrung, or he may be insupportably galled 
or pained by the harness. These things should be examined into, and, if possible, 
rectified ; for, under such circumstances, cruelty may produce obstinacy and vice, 
but not willing obedience. A horse whose shoulders are raw, or have frequently 
been so, will not start with a cold collar. When the collar has acquired the 
warmth of the parts on which it presses, the animal will go without reluctances 
Some determined balkers have been reformed by constantly wearing a false col- 
lar, or strip of cloth round the shoulders, so that the coldness of the usual collar 
should never be felt; and others have been cured of balking by keeping the col- 
lar on night and day, for the animal is not able to lie down completely at full 
length, which the tired horse is always glad to do. When a horse balks, not at 
starting, bat while doing his work, it has sometimes been useful to line the collar 
with cloth instead of leather; the perspiration is readily absorbed, the substance 
which presses on the shoulder is softer, and it may be far more accurately cased 
off at a tender place. 



Balky Horses. 83 

ly, if you let them stand five or ten minutes, as though 
there was nothing wrong, and then speak to them with 
a steady voice, and turn them a Uttle to the right or 
left, so as to get them both in motion before they feel 
the pinch of the load. But if you want to start a team 
that you are not driving yourself, that has been balked, 
fooled, and whipped for some time, go to them and 
hang the lines on their hames, or fasten them to the 
wagon, so that they will be perfectly loose : make the 
driver and spectators, (if there are any,) stand off 
some distance to one side, so as not to attract the at- 
tention of the horses ; loosen their check-reins, so that 
they can get their heads down, if they choose ; let 
them stand a few minutes in this condition, until you 
see that they are a little composed. While they are 
standing, you should be about their heads, gentling 
them : it will make them a little more kind. When 
you are ready to start, stand before them, and as you 
seldom have but one balky horse in a team, get as 
near in front of him as you can, and if he is too fast for 

But what shall we do with a horse who has thoroughly learned to balk, and 
whom whipping only hardens? Desperate remedies should sometimes be used 
for desperate ca^es, and you may in such cases either kill your horse as not be- 
ing worthy the oats you give him, or you may fasten him to a strong carriage, 
put on a strong harness and reins, and if he balks, set fire to a bunch of shavings 
or a newspaper at his heels, or a bunch of fire crackers ; or exciting his f pirits by 
the application of spirits of turpentine under his tail ; he is bound to go in such 
case— perhaps too fast for you— but of this you must run your risk. It is a des- 
perate remedy, but when kindness and good treatment do not succeed, such a 
remedy will succeed better, and is more humane than beating, unmerciful whip- 
ping, &c., which seldom succeed at all. 

In India when a horse can and will not draw, instead of whipping, spurring 
or burning him, they quietly get a rope and attaching it to one of the fore feet, 
one or two men take hold of it, and advancing a few paces ahead of tho horse , 
pull their best. No matter how stubborn the animal may be, a few doses of such 
treatment effects a perfect cure. 



84: The Hokse Farkier. 

the other horse let his nose come agamst your breast : 
this will keep him steady, for he will go slow rather 
than run on you ; turn them gently to the right, with- 
out lettmg them j^ull on the traces, as far as the tongue 
will let them go ; stop them with a kind word, gentle 
them a little, and then turn them back to the left, by 
the same process. You ^\dll have them under your 
control by this time, and as you turn them again to 
the right, steady them in the collar, and you can take 
them where you please. 

There is a quicker process that wiU start a balky 
horse, but not so sure. Stand him a little ahead, so 
that his shoulders will be against the collar, and then 
take up one of his fore feet in your hand, and let the 
driver start them, and when the weight comes against 
his shoulders, he will try to step : then let him have his 
foot, and he wiU go right along. If you want to break 
a horse from balkmg, that has long been in that habit, 
you ought to set apart a half a day for that purpose. — 
Put him by the side of some steady horse ; have check- 
lines on them ; tie up all the traces and straps, so that 
there will be nothing to excite them ; do not rein them 
up, but let them have their heads loose. Walk them 
about together for some time as slowly and lazily as 
possible ; stop often and go to your balky horse and 
gentle liim. Do not take any whip about him, but 
keep him just as quiet as you can. He will soon learn 
to start off at the word, and stop whenever you tell 
him. 

As soon as he performs right, hitch him in an empty 
wagon ; have it stand in a favorable position for start- 
ing. It would be well to shorten the stay-chain be- 



Bkeaking. 85 

hind the steady horse, so that, if it is necessary, he 
can take the weight of the wagon the first time you 
start them. Do not drive but a few rods at first : 
watch your balky horse closely, and if you see that he 
is getting excited, stop him before he stops with his 
own accord ; caress him a little, and start again. As 
soon as they go well, drive them over a small hill a 
few times, and then over a large one, occasionally ad- 
ding a little load. This process will make any horse 
true to pull. 

TO BREAK A HOESE TO HARNESS. 

Take him in a tight stable, as you did to ride him ; 
take the harness and go through the same process that 
you did with the saddle, until you get him familiar 
with them, so that you can imt them on and rattle 
them about without his caring for them. As soon as 
he will bear this, put on the lines, caress him as you 
draw them over him, and drive him about in the stable 
till he will bear them over his hips. The lines are a 
great aggravation to some colts, and often frighten 
them as much as if you were to raise a whip over them. 
As soon as he is familiar with the harness and fines, 
take him out and put him by the side of a gentle horse, 
and go through the same process that you did with the 
balking horse. Always use a bridle without blinds, 
when you are breaking a horse to harness, 

HOW TO HITCH A HORSE IN A SULKY. 

Lead him to and around it ; let him look at it, touch 
it with his nose, and stand by it till he does not care 
for it ; then pull the shafts a little to the left, and stand 
your horse in front of the off wheel. Let some one 



86 The Horse Fareiek. 

stand on the right side of the horse, and hold him by 
the bit, while you stand on the left side, facing the 
sulky. This will keep him straight. Run your left 
band back, and let it rest on his hip, and lay hold of 
the shafts with your right, bringing them up very 
gently to the left hand, which still remains stationary. 
Do not let anything but your arm touch his back, and 
as soon as you have the shafts square over him, let the 
person on the opposite side take hold of one of them, 
and lower them very gently to the shaft-bearers. Be 
very slow and deliberate about hitchmg ; the longer 
time you take, the better, as a general thing. When 
you have the shafts placed, shake them slightly, so that 
he will feel them against exich side. As soon as he will 
bear them without scaring, fasten your biaces, etc., 
and start him along very slowly. Let one man lead 
the horse, to keep him gentle, while the other grad- 
ually works back with the lines till he can get behind 
and drive him. After you have driven him in this way 
a short distance, you can get into the sulky and all 
will go right. It is very important to have your horse 
go gently, when you first hitch him. After you have 
walked him awhile, there is not half so much danger 
of his scaring. Men do very wrong to jump behind a 
horse to drive him as soon as they have him hitched. 
There are too many things for him to comprehend all 
at once. The shafts, the lines, the harness and the 
ratthng of the sulky, all tend to scare him, and he must 
be made familiar with them by degrees. If your horse 
is very wild, I would advise you to put up one foot the 
first time you drive him. 



Make a House Lie Dov/n. 87 

how to make a horse lie down. 

Every thing that we want to learn the horse must 
be commenced in some way to give him an idea of what 
you want him to do, and then be repeated till he learns 
it perfectly. To make a horse He down, bend his left 
fore leg, and slip a loop over it, so that he cannot get 
it down. Then put a cirsingle around his body, and 
fasten one end of a long strap around the other fore 
leg, just above the hoof. Place the other end under 
the cirsingle, so as to keep the strap in the right direc- 
tion ; take a short hold of it with your right hand ; 
stand on the left side of the horse ; grasp the bit in your 
left hand, pull steadily on the strap with your right ; 
bear against his shoulder till you cause him to move. 
As soon as he lifts his weight, your pulling will raise 
the other foot, and he will have to come on his other 
knee. Keep the strap tight in your hand, so that he 
cannot straighten his leg if he raises up. Hold him in 
this position, and turn his head towards you ; bear 
against his side with your shoulder, not hard, but with 
a steady, equal pressure, and in about ten minutes he 
will lie down. As soon as he lays down, he wUl be 
completely conquered, and you can handle him as you 
please. Take off the straps, and straighten out his legs ; 
rub him lightly about the face and neck with your 
hand, the way the hair lays ; handle all his legs, and 
after he has lain ten or twenty minutes, let him get up 
again. After resting him for a short time, make him 
lie down as before. Repeat the operation three or four 
times, which will be sufficient for one lesson. Give 
him two lessons a day, and when you have given hhn 
four lessons, he will lie down by taking hold of one 



88 The Hoese Fareiee. 

foot. As soon as he is broken to lie down in this way, 
tap him on the opposite leg with a stick when you take 
hold of his foot, and in a few days he will lie down from 
the mere motion of the stick. 

HOW TO MAKE A HORSE FOLLOW YOU. 

Turn him into a large stable or shed, where there is 
no chance to get out, with a halter or bridle on. Go 
to him and gentle him a little, take hold of his halter, 
and turn him towards you, at the same time touching 
him lightly over the hips with a long whip. Lead him 
the length of the stable, rubbing him on the neck, say- 
ing in a steady tone of voice, as you lead him, come 
along boy ! or use his name instead of boy, if you 
choose. Every time you turn, touch him slightly with 
the whip, to make him step up close to you, and then 
caress him with your hand. He will soon learn to hurry 
up, to escape the whip and be caressed, and you can 
make him follow you around without taking hold of 
the halter. If he should stop and turn from you, give 
him a few sharp cuts about the hind legs, and he will 
soon turn his head towards you, when you must always 
caress him. A few lessons of this kind will make him 
run after you, when he sees the motion of the whip : 
in twenty or thirty minutes, he will follow you about 
the stable. After you have given him two or three 
lessons in the stable, take him out into a small lot, and 
train him, and from thence you can take him into the 
road, and make him follow you anywhere, and run af- 
ter you. 

HOW TO MAKE A HORSE STAND WITHOUT HOLDING. 

After you have well broken him to follow you, stand 



.^1 m the centre of the stable ; begm at his head to 
caress him, gradually working backwards. If he move, 
give him a cut with the whip, and put him back to the 
same spot from whence he started. If he stands, ca- 
ress him as before, and continue gentling him in this 
way until you can get round him without makmg him 
move. Keep walking around him, increasmg your 
pace, and only touching him occasionally. Enlarge 
your circle as you walk around, and if he then moves, 
give hira another cut with the whip, and put him back 
to his place. If he stands, go to him frequently, and 
caress him, and then walk around him again. Do not 
keep him in one position too long at a time, but make 
him come to you occasionally, and follow around in the 
stable. Then stand him in another place, and proceed 
as above. You should not train your horse more than 
half an hour at a time. 



CHAPTER IV 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT, ETC., OF THE HORSE. 



STABLING. 

This matter Jaas not received the attention that its 
importance demands. A situation should be selected 
which will admit of draining, sheltered from the coldest 
winds, and easy of access. In damp, unventilated 
stables, you will be the most likely to find such dis- 
eases as mange, coughs, bad eyes, greasy heels, swelled- 
legs, glanders, farcy, and rough, dry, starmg coat. — 
Stables should be about sixteen to eighteen feet in 
width, and have six feet for each stall. It is well to 
have a door at each end when convenient, for the 
purpose of ventilation, when necessary. It should be 
about eight by five feet. Accidents often occur from 
having it too narrow ; it may be double. It should 
be so hung as to swing back of its own accord. 
The edges of the posts should be rounded ; the ceiling 
should be at least nine feet in height. 

The stable should be so contrived that the urine 
shall quickly run oflT, and the offensive and injurious 
vapor from decomposing fluid and the litter will thus 



Am AND LlTTEE. 91 

be materially lessened ; but if this is effected by means 
of gutters and a descending floor, the descent must Le 
barely sufficient to cause the fluid to escape, as, if the 
toes are kept higher than the heels, it will lead to 
lameness, and is also a frequent cause of contraction of 
the foot. Stalls of this kind certainly do best for 
mares ; but for horses we much prefer those with a 
grating in the centre, and a slight inclination of the 
floor on every side towards the middle. A short 
branch may communicate with a larger drain, by 
means of which the urine may be carried off to a 
reservoii- outside the stable. Traps are now contrived, 
and may be procured at little expense, by means of 
which neither any offensive smell nor current of air 
can pass through the grating. 

AIK AND LITTER. 

The breathing of pure air is necessary to the ex- 
istence and the health of man and beast. It is com- 
paratively lately that this has been admitted even in 
the management of our best stables. 

If the stable is close, the air will not only be hot, but 
foul. The breathing of every animal contaminates it ; 
and when, m the course of the night, with every 
aperture stopped, it passes again and again through 
the lungs, the blood cannot undergo its proper and 
healthy change ; digestion will not be so perfectly per- 
formed, and all the functions of life are injured. 

Every stable should possess within itself a certain 
degree of ventilation. The cost of this would be 
trifling, and its saving in the preservation of valuable 
animals will be immense. The appertures need not 



92 The Horse Farrier. 

be large, and the whole may be so contrived that no 
direct current of air will fall on the horse. 

The temperature of a stable should seldom exceed 
VO'^ in the summer or sink below*40° or 50° in the 
winter. 

Litter should be frequently removed. The early ex- 
trication of gas shows the rapid putrefaction of the 
urine ; and the consequence of which will be the rapid 
putrefaction of the litter that has been moistened by it. 
Everything hastening to decomposition should be care- 
f illy removed where life and health are to be pre- 
served. The litter that has been much wetted or at 
all softened by the urine, and is beginning to decay, 
should be swept away every morning ; the greater 
part of the remamder may then be piled away under 
the manger ; a little being left to prevent the painful 
and mjurious pressure of the feet on the hard pave- 
ment during the day. The soiled and soaked portion 
of that which was left should be removed at night. 
In the better kind of stables, however, the stalls should 
be completely emptied every morning. 

No heap of fermenting dung should be suffered to 
remain during the day in the corner or in any part of 
the stable. 

GROOMING. 

Of this, much need not be said to the agriculturist, 
since custom, and apparently without ill effect, has al- 
lotted so little of the comb and brush to the farmer's 
horse. The animal that is worked all day, and turned 
out at night, requires little more to be done to him 
than to have the dirt brushed off his limbs. Regular 
grooming, by rendering his skin more sensible to the 



Geooming. 93 

alternation of temperature, and the inclemency of the 
weather, would be prejudicial. The horse that is alto- 
gether turned out, needs no grooming. The dandruff, 
or scurf, which accumulates at the roots of the hair, is 
a provision of nature to defend him from the wind and 
the cold. 

The stable horse, however, should be dressed regular- 
ly every day, in addition to the grooming that is neces- 
sary after work. 

Whoever would be convinced of the benefit of 
friction to the horse's skin, and to the horse generally, 
needs only to observe the effects produced by well 
hand-rubbing the legs of a tired horse. While every 
enlargement subsides, and the painful stiffness disap- 
pears, and the legs attain their natural warmth, and 
become fine, the animal is evidently and rapidly re- 
viving ; he attacks his food with appetite, and then 
quietly lies down to rest. 

When, however, the horse is changing his coat, both 
the curry-comb and the brush should be used as Hght- 
ly as possible. 

Boiled barley, boUed or raw linseed, raw carrots, and 
boiled turnips, are among the articles of food that lay 
the hair, and soften the skin. 

Grooming should be conducted out of the stable, 
whenever practicable. Mud should never be allowed 
to dry on the legs or feet. They should be got cool, 
dry and clean, by washing, scraping, rubbing and walk- 
ing a heated horse ; and they should never be left in a 
cold draft, when warm. Cleanliness is indispensable to 
the health of a horse. 



94 The Horse Faerier. 

dressing vicious horses. 

Many horses are rendered vicious to clean, by the 
awkwardness, timidity, and folly of the keeper. An 
awkward man gives the horse more pain than ought to 
attend the operation. A timid man allows the horse 
to master him, and a mischievous fellow is always learn- 
ing him tricks. 

Biting may be prevented by putting on a muzzle, or 
by tying the head to the rack, or to the ring outside 
of the stable. When reversed in the stall, the head 
may be secured by the pillar-reins. A muzzle often 
deters a horse from attempting to bite, but some will 
strike a man to the ground, though they cannot seize 
him. These must be tied up. Many harness-horses 
are perfectly quiet while they are bridled, and it is suf- 
ficient to let the bridle remain on, or to put it on, till 
they be dressed. -Others, again, are quite safe when 
blindfolded. Kicking horses are more dangerous than 
biters. A great many strike out, and are apt to injure 
an awkward groom ; yet they are not so bad but an 
expert fellow may manage them, without using any 
restraint. A switch held always in the hand, in view 
of the horse, and lightly applied, or threatened when 
he attempts to strike, will render others comparatively 
docile. A few permit their hind quarters to be cleaned 
while their clothes are on. Some there are, however, 
that cannot be managed so easily. They strike out ; 
those especially that lead idle lives, so quickly and so 
mahciously, that the groom is in great danger, and 
cannot get his work properly performed. There are 
two remedies — the arm-strap and the twitch.* Where 

* Bee page 78. 



T) i::.ssTXG Viciou- IIuKSKS. 95 

■Tinather man cannot be spared to assist, one of the fore 
legs is tied up ; the knee is bent till the foot almost 
touches the elbow, and a broad buckling-strap is ap- 
plied over the fore-arm and the pastern. The horse 
then stands upon three legs, and the groom is in no 
danger of a kick. Until the horse is accustomed to 
stand in this way, he is apt to throw himself down ; 
For the first two or three times, the leg should be held 
up by a man, rather than tied with a strap. The horse 
should stand on a thick bed of litter, so that he may 
not be injured, should he fall. In course of time, he 
may perhaps become quieter, and the arm-strap may 
be thrown aside. It should not be applied always to 
the same leg, for it produces a tendency to knuckling 
over of the pastern, which, in a great measure, is 
avoided by tying up each leg alternately. Even the 
arm-strap will not prevent some horses from kicking. 
Some can stand on two legs, and some will throw them- 
selves do-WTi. The man must just coax the horse, and 
get over the operation with as little irritation as pos- 
sible. Upon extraordinary occasions, the twitch may 
be employed, but it must not be applied every day, 
otherwise the lip upon which it is placed becomes in- 
flamed or palsied. When restraint must be resorted 
to, the man should be doubly active in getting through 
his work, that the horse may not be kept for a need- 
less length of time in pain. He may, in some cases, 
give the horse a very complete dressing when he is 
fatigued, and not disposed to offer much resistance. 

EXERCISE. 

Our observations on this important branch of sta- 
ble-management must have only a slight reference to 



96 The Horse Fakrier. 

the agricultural horse. His work is usually regular, 
and not exhausting. He is neither predisposed to dis- 
ease by idleness, nor worn out by excessive exertion. 
He, like his master, has enough to do to keep him in 
health, and not enough to distress or injure him : on 
the contrary, the regularity of his work prolongs hfe 
to an extent rarely witnessed in the stable. Our re- 
marks on exercise, then, must have a general bearing. 
The first rule we would lay down is, that every horse 
should have daily exercise. The animal that, with the 
usual stable-feeding, stands idle for three or four days, 
as is the case in many establishments, must suffer. He 
is predisposed to fever, or to grease, or most of all, 
diseases of the foot ; and if, after three or four days of 
inactivity, he is ridden far and fast, he is almost sure 
to have inflammation of the lungs or of the feet. 

A stable-fed horse should have two hours' exercise 
every day, if he is to be kept free from disease. Noth- 
ing of extraordinary, or even of ordinary labor, can be 
effected on the road or in the field, without sufficient 
and regular exercise. It is this alone which can give 
energy to the system, or develope the powers of any 
animal. 

Exercise should be somewhat proportioned to the 
age of the horse. A young horse requires more than 
an old one. Nature has given to young animals of 
every kind a disposition to activity ; but the exercise 
must not be violent. A great deal depends upon the 
manner in which it is given. To preserve the temper, 
and to promote health, it should be moderate, at least 
at the beginning and the termination. The rapid trot, 
or even the gallop, may be resorted to in the middle 
of the exercise, but the horse should be brought in cool. 



Feeding. 97 

FOOD. 

The system of manger-feeding is becoming general 
among farmers. There are few horses that do not 
habitually waste a portion of their hay ; and by some 
the greater part is pulled down and trampled under 
foot, in order first to cull the sweetest and best locks, 
and which could not be done while the hay was en- 
closed in the rack. A good feeder will afterwards pick 
up much of that which was thrown down ; but some 
of it must be soiled and rendered disgusting, and, in 
many cases, one-third of this division of their food is 
wasted. Some of the oats and feed are imperfectly 
chewed by all horses, and scarcely at all by hungry and 
greedy ones. The appearance of the dung will suffi- 
ciently evince this. 

The observation of this induced the adoption of 
manger-feeding, or of mixing a portion of cut feed with 
the grain. By this means the animal is compelled to 
chew his food. He cannot, to any great degree, waste 
the straw or hay ; the feed is too hard and too sharp 
to be swallowed without sufficient mastication, and, 
while he is forced to grind that down, the oats are 
ground with it, and yield more nourishment ; the 
stomach is more slowly ^filled, and therefore acts better 
on its contents, and is not so likely to be overloaded ; 
and the increased quantity of saliva thrown out in the 
lengthened maceration of the food, softens it, and 
makes it more fit for digestion. 

Many farmers very properly grind the oats or corn. 
The whole oat is apt to slip out of the feed and be lost ; 
but when it is bruised, and especially if the feed is a 
little wetted, it will not readily separate ; or, should a 



98 The Hokse Farkiee. 

portion of it escape the grinders, it will be partly pre- 
pared for digestion by the act of bruising. Horses of 
quicker draught, except they are naturally disposed to 
scour, will thrive better with bruised than with whole 
oats ; for a greater quantity of nutriment wUl be ex- 
tracted from the food. 

For the agricultural and cart-horse, eight pounds of 
oats should be added to every twenty pounds of cut 
feed. Thirty-four or thirty-six poimds of the mixture 
will be sufficient for any moderate-sized horse, with 
fair, or even hard work. The dray and wagon-horse 
may require forty pounds. Hay in the rack at night 
is, in this case, supposed to be omitted altogether. 
The rack, however, may remain, as occasionally useful 
for the sick horse, or to contain tares or other green 
feed. 

Horses are very fond of this provender. The major- 
ity of them, after having been accustomed to it, will 
leave the best oats given to them alone, for the sake 
of the mingled cut feed and grain. We would, how- 
ever, caution the farmer not to set apart too much 
damaged hay for the manufacture of the feed. The 
horse may thus be induced to eat that which he would 
otherwise refuse ; but il' the nourishing property of the 
hay has been impaired, or it has acquired an mjurious 
prmciple, the annual will either lose condition, or be- 
come diseased. For old horses, and for those with de- 
fective teeth, cut feed is pecuHarly useful, and for them 
should be broken down as well as the fodder. 

While the mixture of chaff with the grain prevents 
it from being too rajddly devoured, and a portion of 
it swallowed whole, and therefore the stomach is not 



Cdt Feed. 90 

too loaded with that on which, as containing the most 
nutriment, its chief digestive power should be exerted, 
yet, on the whole, a great deal of time is gained by 
this mode of feeding, and more is left for rest. When 
a horse comes in wearied at the close of the day, it oc- 
cupies, after he has eaten his grain, two or three hours 
to clear his rack. On the system of manger-feeding, 
the feed being already cut into small pieces, and the 
corn and oats ground, he is able fiilly to satisfy his 
appetite in an hour and a half. Two additional hours 
are therefore devoted to rest. This is a circumstance 
deserving of much consideration, even in the farmer's 
stable, and of immense consequence to stage-coach 
proprietors, and the owner of every hard-worked horse. 

Manger-food will be the usual support of the farmer's 
horse during the v/mter, and while at constant or oc- 
casional hard work ; but from the middle of April to 
the end of July, he may be fed with this mixture in the 
day, and turned out at night, or he may remain out 
during every rest day. A team in constant employ 
should not, however, be suffered to be out at night after 
the end of July. 

The farmer should take care that the pasture is thick 
and good. 

Every barn should be supplied with a feed-cutter, 
and it should be kept in daily use ; and experience has 
proved that eight ears of corn crushed, is better feed, 
and will keep a horse in a better condition than twelve 
fed to him without crushing. Thirty or forty per cent, 
is saved by grinding the grain and mixing it with cut 
feed. They should be fed at regular intervals, their 
diet often changed, and no more given at a time than 
they will eat. 



100 TuE IToESE Farkiek. 

Carkots. — The virtues of this root are not sufficient- 
ly known, whether as contributing to the strength and 
endurance of the sound horse, or the rapid recovery of 
the sick one. To the healthy horse, they should be 
given sliced in his feed. Half a bushel will be a fair 
daily allowance. There is little provender of which 
the horse is fonder. The following account of the val- 
ue of the carrot is not exaggerated. " This root is held 
in much esteem. There is none better, nor perhaps so 
good. When first given, it is slightly diuretic and 
laxative ; but as the horse becomes accustomed to it, 
these efiects cease to be produced. They also improve 
the state of the skin. They form a good substitute for 
grass, and an excellent alterative for horses out of con- 
dition. To sick and idle horses, they render grain un- 
necessary. They are beneficial in all chronic diseases 
connected with breathing, and have a marked influence 
upon chronic cough and broken wind. They are ser- 
viceable in diseases of the skin, and in combination with 
oats they restore a worn horse much sooner than oats 
alone. 

Potatoes have been given, and with advantage, in 
their raw state, sliced with the chaff"; but, where it 
has been convenient to boil or steam them, the benefit 
has been far more evident. Purging has then rarely 
ensued. Some have given boiled potatoes, alone, and 
horses, instead of rejecting them, have soon preferred 
them even to oats ; but it is better to mix them with 
the usual manger-feed, in the proportion of one pound 
of potatoes to two and a half pounds of the other in- 
gredients. The use of the potatoe must depend on its 
cheapness, and the facility for boiling it. Half a dozen 
horses would soon repay the expense of a steaming- 



Water. 101 

boiler, in the saving of provender, without taking into 
the account their improved condition and capability 
for work. A horse fed on potatoes should have his 
quantity of water materially curtailed. 

Prof. Low says that fifteen pounds of potatoes yield 
as much nourishment as four pounds and ahalf of oats. 
Yon Thayer asserts that three bushels are equal to 112 
pounds of hay ; and Cur wen, who tried potatoes ex- 
tensively in the feeding of horses, says that an acre 
goes as far as four acres of hay. 

Water. — This is a part of stable management little 
regarded by the farmer. He lets his horses loose 
morning and night, and they go to the nearest pond or 
brook, and drink their fill, and no harm results, for 
they obtain that kind of water which nature designed 
them to have, in a manner prepared for them by some 
unknown influence of the atmosphere, as well as by 
the deposition of many saline admixtures. The difier- 
ence between hard and soft water is known to every 
•one. In soft water, soap will curdle, vegetables will 
not boil soft, and the saccharine matter of the malt can- 
not be fully obtained in the process of brewing. There 
is nothing in which the difierent effect of hard and soft 
water is so evident as in the stomach and digestive or- 
gans of the horse. Hard water, drawn fresh from the 
well, will assuredly make the coat of a horse unaccus- 
tomed to it stare, and it will not unfrequently gripe 
and otherwise injure him. Instinct or experience has 
made even the horse himself conscious of this, for he 
will never drink hard Vv'ater if he has access to soft ; 
and he will leave the most transparent and pure water 
of the well for a river, although the stream may be 



102 The Horse Fakriek. 

turbid, and even for the muddiest pool. He is injured, 
however, not so much by the hardness of the well-wa- 
ter, as by its coldness — particularly by its coldness in 
summer, and when it is in many degrees below the 
temperature of the atmosphere. The water m the 
brook and the pond being warmed by long exposure 
to the air, as well as having become soft, the horse 
drinks freely of it without danger. 

If the horse were watered three times a day, and es- 
pecially in summer, he would often be saved from the 
sad torture of thirst, and from many a disease. 

AGE. 

To be able to ascertain the age of a horse, with tol- 
erable certainty, is a subject of considerable unportance 
to every person who may have occasion to purchase. 

The following rules will enable any man to ascertain 
with tolerable certainty the age of any horse. Every 
horse has six teeth above and below : before he arrives 
at the age of three, he sheds his two middle teeth, by 
the young teeth rising and shoving the old ones out 
of their place. When he arrives at the age of three, 
he sheds one more on each side of the middle teeth ; 
when four years old, he sheds two corner and the last of 
his fore teeth ; between four and five, he cuts his under 
tusks, and when five, will cut his upper tusks, and have 
a mouth full and complete ; his teeth appearing to have 
their full growth, except the tusks, and will be even, 
regularly placed, and pretty much grooved on the in- 
side, with hollows of a very dark brown color. There 
is also a very plain difference between colt's and horse's 
teeth ; the colt's being without grooves and hollows, 
and never so large and strong. Some horses are with- 



Age of Horses. 103 

out upper tusks, even to the end of their lives ; but 
this is not common. The appearance of the lower tusks, 
and them fully grown, is the most certain proof that 
the horse is five years old, even if one of his colt's teeth 
remains unshed. At six years old, the grooves and 
hollows in a horse's mouth begin to 1111 up a little, and 
their tusks have their full growth, Vv^ith their points 
sharp, and a little concave, or hollow on the inside. 
At seven years old, the grooves and hollows will be 
pretty well filled below, except the corner teeth, leav- 
ing, where the dark brown hollov\'S formerly v>xre, lit- 
tle brown spots. At eight, the whole of the hoUov^^s 
and grooves are filled up, and you see the appearance 
of Vv^hat is termed smooth below. At nine years old 
there very often appears a small bill to the outside 
corner teeth ; the point of the tusk is worn off", and 
the part that vv\as concave begins to fill up and become 
rounding ; the squares of the middle teeth begin to 
disappear, and the gums leave them small and narrow 
at the top. Dealers in horses sometimes drill or hol- 
low the teeth with a graver, and black the hollows by 
using a hot iron, for the purpose of passing an old horse 
for a young one, upon those who have but little or no 
experience upon the subject. But a discerning eye 
will readily discover the cheat, by the unnatural shape 
and blackness of the hollows, the dullness and round- 
ness of tlie tusks, together vrith the want of squares to 
the front, and by many other visible marks, which de- 
note the advanced age of a horse. 

Betvv'een nine and ten years of age, a horse general- 
ly loses the marks of the mouth, though there are a 
few exceptions; as some horses retain good mouths un- 



104 The Horse Farrier. 

til they are fourteen or fifteen years old, with their 
teeth white, even, and regular, and many other marks 
of freshness and vigor. But when a horse grows old, 
it may be discovered by these indications, which com- 
monly attend old age, viz: The gums wear away and 
leave the roots of the teeth long and slender ; the 
roots grow yellow, and often brownish ; the bars of 
the mouth (which are alw:iys fleshy, plump, and dry, in 
a young horse, and form so many distinct, firm ridges,) 
in an old horse are lean, smooth, and are covered with 
saliva, with few or no ridges. The eyes of a young horse 
appear plump, full, and lively ; the lids with few wrmk- 
les, the hollows above' the ball small, and no gray hairs 
upon the brow, unless they proceed from the color or 
marks of the horse. The eyes of an old horse appear 
sleepy, dim and sunk, and the hds loose and very much 
shriveled, Avith large hollows, and the brow gray. The 
countenance of a young horse is bold, gay, and lively; 
while that of an old one is sad, dejected, and melan- 
choly, unless mounted, and artificial means used to give 
him spirit. 

The age can be ascertained by a wrinkle over the 
eye after they are nine years old. A wrinkle comes on 
the eyelid at the upper corner of the lower lid, and 
every year thereafter he has one well-defined wrinkle 
for each year over nine. If, for instance, a horse has 
three wrinkles, he is twelve ; if four, he is thirteen. 
And add the number of wrinkles to nine, and you will 
always get it. 

TO SAVE HORSES FROM FIRE. 

The difficulty of getting horses from burning stables 
is well known. The remedy is to blind-fold them per- 
fectly, and by gentle usage, they may easily be led out. 



Scalded Shorts. 105 

method of administerii^^g medicines. 
We know of no improvement to the common custom 
of administering medicine in the form of a drench, using 
a common champagne bottle, and stand a little elevated 
on the right side of the horse, your back turned tovr.irds 
his body ; then take a firm hold of the lower jaw with 
the left hand, at the same time moderately elevating the 
head, (not too high,) while with the right introduce the 
bottle between the canine teeth and grinders, keep it in 
that position, and gradually pour down the contents of 
the bottle. Time should be taken. If it is poured down 
in small quantities, so much the better ; the horse will 
be more likely to swallow it, especially if it shall be 
made palatable by the addition of a few caraway seeds 
or a little honey. Medicme given in the fluid form is 
readily taken up by the lacteals, and operates, for good 
or evil, in much less time than balls. Horses, like chil- 
dren, must be handled in the most gentle manner. They 
will generally refuse to drink even a little gruel, when 
any unnecessary severity is resorted to in its administra- 
tion. They may be coaxed, but not forced. 

SCALDED SHOETS. 

Shorts, as they are familiarly termed, when scalded 
make an excellent diet for sick animals. The usual 
method of preparation is, to turn two or three quarts of 
shorts into a bucket, to which add boiling water, so that the 
mixture, when stirred, shall be about the consistence of 
a soft poultice ; it is then to be covered with a cloth, and 
not given to the horse until sufiiciently cool. When a 
horse has taken cold, and labors under a discharge from 
the nostrils, the mash may be put into the manger while 
hot, with a view of steaming the nasal passages, and fa- 



106 The Hoese Faeeiee. 

voring the discharge of morbid accumulations. This is 
good for all acute diseases; in fever and all inflamma- 
tory complaints; it is useful also as a preparative to 
physic, serving to remove any indurated foeces there may 
be in tlie bowels, whereby the operation of the medicine 
is rendered more safe and affectual. When a horse has 
been fed high for some time, a change to a diet of mash- 
es for two or three days will often do a great deal of 
good. 

During the active stage of acute diseases of the alimentar 
ry canal — inflammation of the bowels for example — food of 
this description is inadmissible, and such articles as are 
mucilaginous, or lubricating, are used. The best we know 
of, are flaxseed, marshmallows, and slippery elm. It is 
customary in England, in large stables, to set a boiler^ in 
which hot water is continually kept for the purposes of 
the stable, and more particularly for makuig bran 'inashes^ 
and at night, if any of the horses look dinnpish^ (fatigued,) 
a bran mash and a good Avarm bed of straw generally re- 
store them. 

JUDGING THE CHARACTER OF HORSES BY THEIR COLOR. 

The following conclusions are the result of long exper- 
ience and observation : 

Sorrel or chestnut with white feet and head are marks 
of kindness, if broad and full between the eyes, can be 
depended on as a horse of good sense, and capable of be- 
ing trained to anything ; they will not stand the whip, if 
well fed. 

A dish-faced horse indicates too much go-head, and is 
not safe for every body. 

.A deep bay, without a white hair, indicates one of great 
bottom, but rather tricky and unsafe, or what some would 



Wakeantees. 107 

call a fool of a horse. If you want one that will never 
give out, never tiy a large, overgrown horse. 

A black horse cannot stand heat, nor a white one cold. 
White about the head — the more the better — indicates 
docility. Some suppose the parti-colored horses belong- 
mg to circuses, shows, &g., were selected for their oddi- 
ty, but the selection is made on account of their great 
docility and gentleness. 

WARRANTEES. 

A few remarks on this subject may be serviceable often 
to the farmers, and we cannot do the subject better jus- 
tice than to insert the following, taken from the JVIodern 
Horse-Doctor, by Dr. Dadd : 

" Warrantees, by which is meant an idemnity against 
any unsoundness, or a pledge given — commonly in tori- 
ting — by the vender to the purchaser, that the horse is 
sound and quiet, and possesses such and such qualifica- 
tions. Without such idemnification or pledge, the law 
says, Caveat emptor — let the , purchaser take the conse- 
quences ; the rule at law being, that every body who 
purchases a horse takes him at his own judgment, and has 
no remedy against the seller, supposing the horse to turn 
out, upon a future trial, or a more considerate inspection 
after the purchase, to be worth less than the sum given ; 
unless he (the purchaser,) can prove he was induced to 
purchase by representations false within the knowledge 
of the seller ; to fasten a fraud of which nature upon an 
experienced dealer in horses is, however, a difficult mat- 
ter. Warrantees are of different kinds — expressed or im- 
plied^ general or special. An express warranty speaks for 
itself. And as for an implied warranty, such a thing is 
hardly known, or at least, rarely taken advantage of in 
horse dealing^ the price paid, however high, not being 
legally held to be any guaranty of the soundness of the 
animal ; and any thing that might transpire between sel- 
ler and buyer, implying warranty, being worth nothing 



108 The Hoese Faekier. 

without proofs which, heing procured, would render the 
transaction, in law, tantamount to an express warranty. 
A general warranty extends to all defects and faults 
known and unknown to the seller ; but a special warran- 
ty is confined in its operation to the parts or particulars 
specifically pointed out. A horse may be v>"arranted of 
such an age ; or, having some defect visible upon his 
limbs, such as a spavin, or a curb, or a fired leg, of which 
he does not go lame at the time, that defect may be spe- 
cified, and the horse warranted not (within any reasona- 
ble or prescribed period) to become lame in consequence 
of it. A general warranty, however, afibrds no protec- 
tion against such defects as are ' plain and obvious' to 
every body, and, consequently, to the purchaser; no 
more than a special warranty does against any which are 
not included or named in the specification. ' But if, on 
the sale of a horse, the seller agree to deliver it sound 
and free from blemish at the expiratio7i of a specified 
'period^ the warranty is broken by a fault in the horse 
when delivered, although such defect 'was obvious at the 
time of sale ; and as some splints cause lameness and 
others do not, a splint is not one of those plain defects 
against which a warranty will not idemnify ; and when a 
seller warrants a horse sound at the time of sale,, and the 
horse afterwards becomes lame from the eftects of a splint, 
visible when the horse was bought, it is certain that war- 
ranty is broken.' This rule will apply to spavin, or to 
curb, or to windgall, or, in fact, to any other defect ' visi- 
ble at the time of sale.' For all warrantees can only un- 
dertake for the animal's qualifications at the time of sale / 
none can extend to any subsequent period unless tliere 
be a special clause ' to deliver the horse free from blemish,' 
and that dehvery be by mutual agreement delayed. 

"The form in which a receipt including warranty is 
generally written : — 

"'Received, the 1st of January, 1858, of J. P., the 
sum of two hundred dollars for a bay mare, warranted 
sound and quiet to ride and drive.' 

" Or, ' Warranted fice from vice and blemish, except — ,' 
" Or, ' Warranted in every respect, except .' 



Warrantees. 109 

" Or, ' Warranted to have been constantly driven both 
in single and double harness, to have carried a lady, to 
have been regularly hunted, to be a good hunter or hack- 
ney, &c., &c.' 

" Folio v,'ing the word ' except' there being opportunity 
afforded the (honest) vender of stating what he may 
know invalidating the warranty, and thereby saving his 
reputation as well as screening himself from the proba- 
bility of litigation afterwards. 

" ' With respect to what (oral) declarations of the seller 
will amount to a warranty, the primary rule for the inter- 
pretation of contracts in general is applicable. It depends 
upon the intention of the parties. A simple affirmation 
of the goodness of an article is a warranty, provided it 
(a warranty) appear to have been intended ; whereas the 
sublimest epithets that a seller ever employed to recom- 
mend his goods to a credulous buyer u'ill be regarded as 
the idle phraseology of the market, unless an intended to 
warranty actually appear.' In line, ' it is from the inten^ 
Hon of the parties, as collected from the wdiole transac- 
tion, and from the meaning they appear to have attached 
to particular expressions, that the existence or non-exis- 
tence of a warranty is to be inferred.' 

" ' Let us now^ consider how the rights of parties are 
affected by the horse being unsound at the -time of the 
w^arranty. The contract being thus broken on the part 
of the seller, it is at the buyer's oj^tion either to treat it 
as a nullity, and return the horse, or to retain him, not- 
withstandmg, and bring an action on the warranty. In 
the ibrmer case, the price paid is the measure of the 
damages he will be entitled to recover in an action ; in 
the latter, the difference between that price and his real 
value. K he offer to rescind the contract and return the 
horse, he may also recover the expenses of his keep ; but 
in order to do this, a positive tender is said to be neces- 
sary, No notice of the unsoundness need be given to 
the vender to entitle the vendee to maintain the action ; 
nor is it necessary to bring the action immediately on 
discovering the unsoundness.' — ' But although such a no- 
tice be not essential, yet it is always advisable to give it, 



110 The Hokse Pakkiek. 

as the omitting to do so will furnish cd the trial strong 
presumption that the horse, at the time of sale, vras free 
from the defect complained of; thus rendering the proof 
of a breach of warranty more diiiicult. Common justice 
and honesty require that the commodity should be re- 
turned at the earliest period, and before it has been so 
changed by lapse of time as to make it impossible to as- 
certain, by proper tests, what Vfere its original proper- 
ties.' " 

SNOW BELLS ON HOESES' FEET. 

Clean the hoofs and feet and rub them v/ell with soft 
soap ; on a journey, to soap them tv»4ce a day may be 
best in some cases, but once a day, in ordinary time, will 
be found sufficient. 

TO MANAGE A HORSE WHEN FALLEN DOWN. 

If the horse is in harness, it is seldom that he can rise 
until he is freed from the shafts and traces. The first 
thing is to secure the head, and to keep it do^^m, that he 
may not beat himself against the ground, ^ext, the 
parts of the harness connected with the carriage must be 
unbuckled — the carriage must then be backed a little 
way, so that he may have room to rise. If necessary, 
the traces must be taken off; and after the horse gets up, 
he must be steadied a little, until he collects himself. 

GETTING THE CHEEK OF THE BIT INTO THE MOUTH. 

Harsh treatment is here completely out of the question. 
All that can be done, is, by some mechanical contrivance, 
to render the thing difficult or impossible, and this may 
be managed by fastening a round piece of leather on the 
inside of the cheek of the bit. 

COLTS CHEWING HALTERS. 

Take scab from the v»'ort on the inside of the leg, rub 
the halter thoroughly with that, and they will not be 
found chewmg their halters very soon. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE VICES AND DISAGSEEABLE OR DANGEROUS HABITS 
OF THE HORSE.* 



The horse has many excellent qualities, but he has, like- 
wise, defects, and these often amount to vices. Some are 
attributable to natural disposition, but the majority are 
attributable to bad education and wrong management. 

BITING. 

This is either the consequence of natural ferocity, or a 
habit acquired from the foolish and teasing play of grooms 
and stable-boys. Prevention, however, is in the power 
of every proprietor of horses. While he insists on gentle 
and hum_ane treatment of cattle, he should systematically 
forbid this horse- play. 

It is seldom that anything can be done in the way of 
cure. Kindness will aggravate the evil, and no degree 
of severity will correct it. " I have seen," says Professor 
Stewart, " biters punished until they tremble in every 
joint, and were ready to drop, but have never in any 
case known them cured by this treatment, or by any other. 

* We would refer the reader to the third chapter of this book, as exceptions are 
taken to some of the statements in this chapter connected with the vicious habits 
of horses. 



112 The Horse Farriek. 

The lash is forgotten in an hour, and the horse is as ready 
and determined to repeat the oflence as before. He ap- 
pears unable to resist the temptation, and in its worst 
form, biting is a species of insanity." 

Constant and laborious work is often beneficial. Some 
horses may be over-awed by being very bold. He may 
be warned by speaking to him. On approaching the 
horse, hold a whip in his view, ready to let it fall. If you 
can get hold of his head, you are safe ; he may then be 
muzzled, or his head tied to the manger, a long rope may 
be fastened to the halter and run through a ring at the 
head of the stall, and proceed backward to the heel post ; 
this enables a man to draw the head close up to the ring, 
and keep it there till the grain or water is delivered, and 
till the horse can be bridled, muzzled, harnessed or dressed 
as the case may be. He is, of course, to be released af- 
ter you leave the stall, but the rope remains in place ready 
for use. 

If you can obtain something that is exceedingly disa- 
greeable to the taste of a horse — some bitter herb — sat- 
urate a piece of cloth, and wind it around a stick for him 
to bite ; it will often, in connection with kind treatment, 
have a tendency to break him. A single short cut across 
the mouth on the instant will sometimes do good. 

KICKING. 

This, as a vice, is another consequence of the culpable 
habit of teasing the horse. There is no cure for this vice 
when it is inveterately established, and he cannot be jus- 
tified who keeps a kicking horse in his stable. He is 
never safe, or relied on as being safe. It is foremost in 
the point of danger, and no treatment will always con- 
quer. An awkward man is always sure to receive injury 



Kicking. 113 

from a confirmed kicker, and a timid man is never safe. 
Before the habit is established, a thorn-bush fastened 
against the partition or post will sometimes effect a cure. 

A chain about 20 inches long, strapped in the centre to 
the horse's foot, is the most effectual remedy known to us. 

A much more serious vice is kicking in harness. From 
the least annoyance about the rump or quarters, some 
horses will kick at a most violent rate, and destroy the 
bottom of the chaise, and endanger the limbs of the driv- 
er. Those that are fidgety in the stable are most apt to 
do this. If the reins should perchance get under the 
tail, the violence of the kicker will often be most out- 
rageous ; and while the animal presses down his tail so 
tightly that it is almost impossible to extricate the reins, 
he continues to plunge until he has demolished every- 
thing behind. 

We know of no treatment better than to put on a head- 
stall or bridle, with twisted W, or twisted straight bitts 
in the mouth of the horse to be cured ; then put on a 
common back-saddle, with thill lugs, or any strap or girth 
with loops on either side of the horse, is equally good ; 
then buckle a pair of long reins, open in the middle, into 
the bitts, and pass them through the thill lugs or loops ; 
one to each hind leg, above the fetlock joint ; there make 
each rein fast to the leg, allowing sufficient length of rein 
for your horse to walk or trot, as the operator may think 
proper. Everything complete, you will have the animal 
commence the operation of kicking ; the first will be a 
smart kick, and the second lighter, and so on till your 
horse cannot be made to kick any niore. 

Or the followmg : Take a forked stick, about two feet 
long, varying a little according to the size of the horses, 
tie the ends of the fork firmly to each end of the bridle 



114 The Hokse Fakkiee. 

bit, and the other end of the stick to the lower end of 
the collar so as to keep the head up, A few days work- 
ing in this manner will commonly suffice for a cure. The 
man, however, who must come Avithin reach of a kicker 
should come as close to him as possible. The blow may 
thus become a push, and seldom is injurious. 

RUNNING AWAY. 

The only method which affords any probability of success 
is to have him alvv^ays firmly in hand ; and, if he will run 
away, and the place will admit of it, to give him (sparing 
neither curb, whip, nor spur,) a great deal more running 
than he likes. If you wish to stop the horse, if on horse- 
back throw your bridle reins around his neck, if possi- 
ble, to choke him, or choke him with your arm. If in 
a wagon, and running away is feared, provide a strong 
cord with a shpping-noose placed around his neck, if he 
runs, draw the cord forcibly. 

CRIB-BITING. 

The causes of crib-biting are various, it is often the re- 
sult of imitation, idleness, and sometimes by partial star- 
vation. The high fed and spirited horse must be mis- 
chievous, if not usefully employed. The crib-biting horse 
is more subject to colic than other horses, and to a species 
difficult of treatment and frequently dangerous. This is 
a bad habit, and very annoying to the owner of a horse. 
Various remedies have been tried, such as ironing the 
manger, petitions, etc. I know of no certain cure but an 
iron muzzle, with bars just wide enough apart to allow 
the horse to pick up his grain and draw out his hay with 
his tongue, but not to get hold of any thing v.dth his 
teeth. Common bar soap is a preventive, which is to be 
rubbed on the edge and outside of the crib, and renewed 



WiND-StJCKING. 115 

as often as necessary. If this habit is not broken, it will 
soon be imitated by every horse in the stable. 

WIN"D-SUCKING. 

This bears a close analogy to crib-biting. It arises 
from the same causes ; the same purpose is accomplished ; 
and the same results follow. The horse stands with his 
neck bent ; his lips alternately a little opened and then 
closed, and a noise is heard as if he were sucking. If 
we may judge from the same comparative want o:' condi- 
tion and the flatulence which we have described under 
the last head, either some portion of wind enters the 
stomach, or there is an injurious loss of saliva. This di- 
minishes the value of the horse almost as much as crib- 
biting ; it is as contagious, and it is as inveterate. The 
only remedies, and they will seldom avail, are tying the 
head up, except when the horse is feeding, or putting on 
a muzzle with sharp spikes towards the neck, and which 
will prick him whenever he attempts to rein his head in 
for the purpose of wind-sucking. — Youatt, 

CUTTIXG. 

There are some defects in the natural form of the horse, 
which are the causes of cutting, and which no contiivance 
will remedy ; as when the legs are placed too near to each 
other, or when the feet are turned inward or outward. 
Some horses will cut only when they are fatigued or lame, 
and old ; many colts will cut before they arrive, at their 
full strength. The inside of the fetlock is often bruised 
by the shoe or the hoof of the opposite foot. Many ex- 
pedients used to be tried to remove this ; the inside heel 
has been raised and lowered, and the outside raised and 
lowered ; and sometimes one o2)eration has succeeded, 
and Bometimes the contrary ; and thei*e was no point so 



116 TiiE Horse Fabrieb. 

involved in obscurity, or so destitute of principles to guide 
the practitioner. The most successful remedy, and that 
which in the great majority of cases supersedes all others, 
is a shoe of equal thickness from heel to toe, and having 
but one nail, and that near the toe on the inside of the 
shoe; care being taken that the shoe shall not extend be- 
yond the edge of the crust, and that the crust shall be 
rasped a little at the quarters. 

NOT LYING DOWN. 

It not uncommonly happens that a horse will seldom 
or never lie down in the stable. He sometimes continues 
in apparent good health, and feeds and works well ; but 
generally his legs swell, or he becomes fatigued sooner 
than another horse. They perhaps are afraid of being 
caught by the halter, or they have already been cast in 
the night, and do not like to try it again. Such horses 
should be let loose in a stable at night, or in a large stall 
without being tied, and furnished with a tempting bed, 
until the habit of lying down is acquired. 

TO PREVENT ROLLING IN THE STALL. 

This is a very dangerous habit, and can be prevented 
only by tying the horse so that he can lie down, but not 
touch his head to the floor. This is very tiresome to the 
horse, and hence, if you care enough for his comfort and 
health, build a narrow j^latform, eighteen to tv/enty-four 
inches in width, slanting at an angle of thirty to forty 
degrees, so that it will form a pillow for his head and 
neck ; then adjust a rope so that as he Hes down his head 
will naturally rest on the platform, or pillow. He will 
not roll unless he can get his head as low as the floor of 
the stable. 



OnERRE ACHING OR ClINEING. 117 

OVERREACHING OR CLINKING. 

An over-reach is a tread upon the heel of the coronet 
of the fore foot by the shoe of the correspondmg hind 
foot, and is either inflicted by the toe, or by the inner edge 
of the inside of the shoe. The preventive treatment is 
the beveling, or rounding off of the inside edge or rim 
of the hind shoes. The cure is the cutting away of the 
loose parts, the application of Friar's balsam, and pro- 
tection from the dirt. 

Some horses, particularly young ones, overreach so as 
to strike the toes of the hind shoes against the fore ones, 
which is termed clinking. KeeiDing up the head of the 
horse does something to prevent this ; but the smith may 
do more by shortening the toe of the hind shoes, and 
having the web broad. "When they are too long, they 
are apt to be torn off — when too narrow, the hind foot 
may bruise the sole of the fore one, or may be locked 
fast between the branches of the fore shoe. 

PAWING. 

Some hot and iritatible horses are restless, even in the 
stable, and paw frequently and violently ; shackles are 
the only remedy, with a chain snfficiently long to enable 
the horse to shift his position, but they must be taken off 
at night to enable the horse to lie down. — Youatt. 

SHYING. 

This arises from various causes, sometimes from defec- 
tive sight, some from cowardness or playfulness, or want 
of Avork, but oftener from bad education. In the treat- 
ment of shying it is of great importance to distinguish 
between that which is the consequence of defective sight, 
and what results from fear, or newness of objects, or 



118 The Horse Farrier. 

mere auectation or skittislmess. For the first, every al- 
lowance must be made, and care must be taken that the 
fear of correction is not associated with the imagined ex- 
istence of some terrifying object. The severe use of the 
v/hip and the spur cannot do good here, and are likely to 
acy(Travate the vice ten-fold. A word, half encouraging 
and half scolding, with a slight pressure of the heel, or a 
slight touch of the spur, will tell the horse that there was 
nothing to fear, and will give him confidence in his rider 
on a future occasion. 

The shying from skittishness or afi*ectation is quite a 
diiferent afijiir, and must be conquered : but how ? Se- 
verity is altogether out of place. If he is forced into 
contact with the object by dint of correction, the dread 
of punishment will afterwards be associated with that ob- 
ject, and, on the next occasion, his startings will be more 
frequent and more dangerous. The way to cure him is 
to go on, turning as little as possible out of the road, 
giving a harsh word or two, and a gentle touch with the 
spur, and then taking no more notice of the matter. Af- 
ter a few times, whatever may have been the object 
which he chose to select as the pretended cause of aflfright, 
he will pass it almost without notice. 

In colts, from fear or playfulness, a considerable degree 
of starting and shying may be exhibited. As little no- 
tice as possible should be taken of it. The same or a 
similar object should be soon passed again, but at a 
gi-eater distance. If the colt still shies, let the distance 
be still farther increased until he takes no notice of the ob- 
ject. Then he may be gradually brought nearer to it, 
and this will be usually affected without the slightest dif- 
ficulty : vrhereas, had there been an attempt to force him 



Slipping the IIaltp^r. 119 

close to it in the first instance, the remeiTibrance of the 
contest Av^ould have been associated with every appear- 
ance of the object, and the habit of shying wou'd have 
been established. If this method is adopted, he will not 
possess the annoying will, v»dien he grows to mature age. 
Nothing is gained by harsh treatment, nor is the foolish 
practice of patting the horse, and making much of him, 
advisable, either just before or during the time he evinces 
shyness. The former is bad, because it draws the atten- 
tion of the animal to the object he dreads ; the latter is 
worse, because it fills him with the impression either that 
the object itself is really terrific, or that he has acted 
right in shying at it, and ought to do so again. 

Whether we are approaching the frightful object, or 
the horse is actually shying, " we should let him alone" 
— " w^e should take no notice whatever of him" — neither 
letting him j^erceive that we are aware that we are ad- 
vancing towards anything he dishkes ; nor do more with 
him, while in the act of shying, than is necessary for due 
restraint with a steady hand ivpon the rein. A horse 
that is in the habit of shying in coming out of the stable, 
should be bridled when led out or in, and held short and 
tight by the hand. — Youatt, 

SLIPPING THE UA1.TEK. 

This is a trick at which many horses are so clever, that 
scarcely a night passes without their getting loose. It 
is a very serious habit, for it enables the horse some- 
times to gorge himself with food, to the imminent dan- 
ger of staggers ; or it exposes him, as ho vranders about, 
to be kicked and mjured by the other horses, while his 
restlesness will often keep the v>'hole team awake. If 



120 The Horse Farrier. 

the web of the halter, being first accurately fitted to his 
neck, is suffered to slip only one way, or a strap is at- 
tached to the halter and buckled round the neck, but not 
sufiiciently tight to be of serious inconvenience, the pow- 
er of slipping the halter will be taken away. — Youatt. 

TRIPPING. 

He must be a skillful practitioner or a mere pretender 
who promises to remedy this habit. If it arises from a 
heavy fore-hand, and the fore-legs being too much under 
the horse, no one can alter the natural frame of the ani- 
mal ; if it proceeds from tenderness of the foot, groggi- 
ness, or old lameness, these ailments are seldom cured. 
Also if it is to be traced to habitual carelessness and idle- 
ness, no whipping will rouse the drone. A known stum- 
bler should never be ridden, or driven by any one who 
values his safety or his life. A tight hand or a strong- 
bearing rein are precautions that should not be neglected. 

If the stumbler has the foot kept as short, and the toe 
pared as close as safety will permit, and the shoe is round- 
ed at the toe, or has that shape given to it which it nat- 
urally acquires in a fortnight, from the peculiar action of 
such a horse, the animal may not stumble quite so much ; 
or if the disease which produced the habit can be allevia- 
ted, some trifling good may be done, but in almost every 
case a stumbler should be got rid of, or put to slow and 
heavy work — Youatt. 

HORSES JUMPING FENCES. 

Pass a small and strong cord around his body, just be- 
hind his shoulders, and tie the halter to this cord betv>^een 
his fore-legs so as to leave the distance about two feet 
from the cord to his head, if then he attempt to jump, 
he is compelled to throw his head forward, which draws 
hard on the cord and causes it to cut into his back and 
he mstantly desists. The cord should not be rpore than 
a quarter of an inch in diameter. 



CHAPTER YI 



OPERATIONS, ETC., ETC. 



SETOXS. 

Setons are useful in various cases in abscesses, such as 
occur in poll evil ; in deep fistulous wounds they are in- 
dispensable. They promote discharge in the neighbor- 
hood of an inflammation. They are made of tow and 
horse hair, braided together, or a small cord or a strap 
of leather may be used ; they are inserted by means of 
an instrument resembling a large needle, either through 
abscesses, or the base of ulcers with deep sinuses, or be- 
tween the skin and the muscular or other substances be- 
neath. They are retained there by the ends being tied 
together, or by a knot at each end. The tape is movec 
in the wound twice or thrice in the day, and occasionally 
wetted with spirits of turpentine, or some acrid fluid, in 
order to increase the inflammation which it produces, or 
the discharge which is intended to be established. 

In inflammation of the chest or intestines, a rowel is 
preferable to a seton, where the inflammation has long 
continued, but not intense. Rowels will be serviceable 
by producing an irritation and discharge. The action of 
rowels is slower than setons or blistering. 



122 The Hokse Faekiek. 

bleeding. 
This operation is performed with a fleam or a lancet. 
Tlie first is the common instrmneiit, except in skillful 
hands. The lancet, however, has a more surgical appear- 
ance, and will be adopted by the veterinary practitioner. 
A bloodstick is used to strike the fleam into the vein. 
This is sometimes done with too great violence, and the 
opposite side of the coat of the vein is wounded. Bad 
cases of inflammation have resulted from this. If the 
fist is doubled, and the fleam is sharp and is struck with 
sufficient force with the lower part of the hand, the blood- 
stick may be dispensed with. 

' For general bleeding the jugular vein is selected. The 
horse is blindfolded on the side on wdiich he is to be bled, 
or his head turned well away. The hair is smoothed 
along the course of the vein with the moistened finger ; 
then, with the third and little finger of the left hand, 
which holds the fleam, pressure is made on the vein suf- 
ficient to bring it fairly into vievv, but not to swell it too 
mucli, for then presenting a rounded surface, it would 
be apt to roU or slip under the blow. The point to be 
selected is about two inches below the union of the two 
portions of the jugular at the angle of the jaw. The 
lieam is to be placed in a direct Ime with the course of 
the vein, and over the precise centre of the vein, as close 
to it as possible, but its point not absolutely touching 
the vein. A sharp rap with the hand on that part of the 
back of the fleam immediately over the blade, will cut 
through the vein, and the blood wall flow. A fleam v/ith 
a large blade should always be preferred. A quantity of 
blood drawn speedily will also have far more efi'ect on 
the system than double the weight slowiy taken, while 



Bleeding. 123 

the wouiicl ™1 Ileal just as readily as if made by a smaller 
instrument. A slight pressure, if the incision has been 
large enough and straight, and in the middle of the vein, 
will cause the blood to flow sufficiently fast ; or, the lin- 
ger being introduced into the mouth between the tush"'S 
and the grinders, and gently moved about, will keep the 
mouth in motion, and hasten the rapidity of the stream 
by the action and pressure of the neighboring muscles. 

When sufficient blood has been taken, the edges of the 
wound should be brought closely and exactly together, 
and kept together by a small sharp pin being passed 
through them. Round this a little tow should be wrap- 
ped, so as to cover the whole of the incision ; and the head 
of the horse should be tied up for several hours to pre- 
vent his rubbing the part against the manger. In brino-- 
ing the edges of the wound together, and introducing 
the pin, care should be taken not to draw the skin too much 
from the neck, otlierwise blood will insinuate itself between 
it and the muscles beneath, and cause an unsightly and 
sometimes troublesome swelling. 

The blood should be received into a vessel, the dimen- 
sions of which are exactly known, so that the operator 
may be able to calculate at every period of the bleeding 
the quantity that is subtracted. Care likewise should be 
taken that the blood flows in a regular stream into the 
centre of the vessel, for if it is suffered to trickle down 
the sides, it will not afterwards undergo those changes 
hy which we partially judge of the extent of inflamma- 
tion. The pulse, hovv^ever, and the symptoms of the 
case collectively, will form a better criterion than any 
change in the blood. Twenty-four hours after the oper- 
ation, the edges of the womid will have united, and the 



124 The Hokse Fareiee. 

pin should be withdrawn. When the bleeding is to be 
repeated, if more than three or four hours have elapsed, 
it will be better to make a fresh incision rather than to 
open the old wound. 

In local inflammation, blood may be taken from any of 
the superficial veins. In supposed affection of the shoul- 
der, or of the fore-leg or foot, the 'plate vein, which comes 
from the inside of the arm, and runs upwards directly in 
front of it toAvards the jugular, may be opened. In af- 
fections of the hind extremity, blood is sometimes ex- 
tracted from the saphcena., or thigh-vein, which runs 
across the inside of the thigh. In foot cases it may be 
taken from the coronet, or, much more safely, from the 
toe ; not by cutting out a piece of the sole at the toe of 
the frog, w^hich somtimes causes a wound difficult to heal, 
and followed by festering, and even by canker ; but cut- 
ting down wdth a fine drawing-knife, called a searcher, at 
the union between the crust and the sole at the very toe 
until the blood flows, and, if necessary, encouraging its 
discharge by dipping the foot in warm water. The mesh- 
work of both arteries and veins w ill be here divided, and 
blood is generally obtained in any quantity that may be 
needed. The bleeding may be stopped w^ith the greatest 
ease, by placing a bit of tow^ in the little groove that has 
been cut, and tacking the shoe over it.* — Youatt. 



* A great improvement has lately been introduced in the method of arresting 
arterial hemorrhage. The operation is very simple, and, with common care 
successful. The instrument is a pair of artery forceps, with rather sharper teeth, 
tlian the common forceps, and the blades held close by a slide. The vessel is laid 
bare, detached from the cellular substance around it, and the artery then grasp- 
ed by the forcei)S, the instrument deviating a very little from the line of the artery. 
The vessel is now divided close to the forceps, and behind them, and the forceps are 
twisted f.uror five times round. The forceps are then loosened, and, gene-rally 
speaking, not more than a drop or two of blood will have been lost. This method 



The Pulse. 125 

the pulse. 

The piilse is a very useful assistant to the veterinary 
surgeon, whose patients cannot describe either the seat 
or degree of ailment or pain. In a state of health, the 
heart beats in a horse about thirty-six times a minute. 
This is said to be the standard pulse — the pulse of health. 
Where it beats naturally, there can be little materially 
wrong. The most convenient place to feel the pulse, is 
at the lower jaw, a little behind the spot where the sub- 
maxillary artery and vein, and the parotid duct, come 
from under the jaw. There the number of pulsations 
will be easily counted, and the character of the pulse, a 
matter of fully equal importance, will be clearly ascer- 
tained. 

When the pulse reaches fifty or fifty-five, some degree 
of fever may be apprehended, and proper precaution 
should be taken. Seventy or seventy-five will indicate a 
dangerous state, and put the owner and the surgeon 
a little on the alert. Few horses long survive a pulse of 
one hundred, for, by this excessive action the energies of 
nature are speedily worn out. 

Some things should be taken into account in forming 
our conclusion of the pulse. Exercise, a warm stable, 
and fear, will wonderfuly increase the number of pulsa- 
tions. 

If a qidclc pulse indicate irritation and fever, a sloio 

of arresting bleeding lias been applied by several scientific and benevolent men M-ith 
almost constant success. It has been readily and eftVctiially practised in docking, 
and patients have escaped much torture, and tetanus lost many a victim. The for- 
ceps have been introduced, and with much success, in castration, and thus the prin- 
cipal danger of that operation, as well as the most painful part of it, is removed. 
The colt wi;l be a fair subject for this experiment. On the sheep and the calf it may 
be readily performed, and the operator will liave the pleasing consciousness of res- 
cuing many a poor animal from the uanecossary infliction of torture.— /iS/)007wr. 



126 The Horse Faeeier. 

pulse will likewise characterize diseases of an opposite 
descriptioD. It accompanies the sleepy stage of staggers, 
and every malady connected with deficiency of nervous 
energy. 

The heart may be excited to more frequent and more 
violent action. It may contract more pov>'erfuily upon 
the hlood, which will be diiven with greater force through 
the arteries, and the expansion of the vessels will be 
greater and more sudden. Then we have the hard pulse 
— the sure indicator of considerable fever, and calluig for 
the immediate and free use of the lancet. 

Sometimes the pulse may be hard and jerking, and yet 
small. The stream though forcible is not great. The 
practitioner knows that this indicates a dangerous state 
of disease. It is an almost invariable accompaniment of 
inflammation of the bowels. 

A weak pulse, vrhen the arterial stream flows slowly, is 
caused by the feeble action of the heart. It is the re- 
verse of fever, and expressive of debility. 

The ojy/yressed pulse is when the arteries seem to be 
fully distended with blood. There is obstruction some- 
where, and the action of the heart can hardly force the 
stream along, or communicate pulsation to the current. 

The state of the pulse should be carefully regarded 
during bleeding. The most experienced practitioner can- 
not tell what quantity of blood must be abstracted in or- 
der to produce the desired efi*ect. The change of the 
23ulse can alone indicate Vvdien the object is accomplished ; 
therefore, the operator should have his finger on the ar- 
tery during the act of bleeding, and, comparatively re- 
gardless of the quantity, continue to take blood, until, 
in inflammation of the iuiigs, the oppressed pulse, becomes 



Clysters. 127 

fuller and more distinct, or the strong pulse of considera- 
ble fever is evidently softer, or the animal exhibits sjmip- 
toms of faintness. 

It is important to distinguish between the pulse of fe- 
ver and that of inilammation. We may have a pulse of 
the greatest rapidity, as in influenza, and yet no one part 
of the body much inflamed. We have known the pulse 
of the horse more than tripled, and the animal still re- 
cover ; and, on the other hand, in cases of inflammation, a 
pulse of 60 has betokened great danger, and, in some ca- 
ses, has been succeeded by death. 

CLYSTERS. 

The principal art of administermg a clyster consists in 
not frightening the horse. The pipe, well oiled, should 
be very gently introduced, and the fluid not too hastily 
thrown into the intestine; its heat being as nearly as 
possible that of the intestine, or about 96*^ of Fahren- 
heit's thermometer. 

These are useful in hastening the evacuation of the 
bowels when the disease requires their speedy action. 

Two ounces of soft or yellov/ soap, dissolved in a gal- 
lon of warm water, will form a useful aperient clyster. 
For a more active aperient, half a pound of Epsom salts, 
or even of common salt, may be dissolved in the same quan- 
ty of water. A stronger injection, but not to be used if 
much purgative medicine has been previously given, may 
be composed of an ounce of Barbadoes aloes, dissolved 
in two or three quarts of warm water. If nothing else 
can be procured, warm water may be employed. 

In cases of over-purging or inflammation of the bowels, 
the injection must be of a soothing nature. It may con- 
sist of gruel alone, or, if the purging is considerable, and 



128 The Horse Farrier. 

difficult to stop, the gruel must be tHcker, and four oun- 
ces of prepared or powdered chalk, well mixed with or 
suspended in it, with two scruples or a drachm of pow- 
dered opium. 

No oil should enter into the composition of a clyster, 
except that Unseed oil may be used for the expulsion of 
the ascarides, or needle-worms. 

In epidemic catarrh, when the horse sometimes obsti- 
nately refuses to eat or to drink, his strengh may be sup- 
ported by nourishing clysters ; but they should consist of 
thick gruel only, and not more than a quart should be 
administered at once. 

TRACHEOTOMY. 

"This operation consists in making an opening into 
the windpipe to admit air to the lungs, when the natural 
passage is obstructed by foreign bodies, or when its cali- 
bre is lessened by tumefaction occasioned by disease. In 
severe cases of laryngitis, strangles, and their kindred 
diseases, when the patient seems almost suflbcated, trach- 
eotomy should be immediately performed. In perform- 
ing the operation, we select a spot about six inches be- 
low the throat, in front of the neck, and over the region 
of the windpipe ; an incision is to be made with a com- 
mon penknife, (in lieu of a better instrument,) to the ex- 
tent of two or three inches, in a downward direction, so 
as to lay bare the trachea ; having exposed space suffi- 
cient, a circular piece between two rings, corresponding 
to the size of the tube, is to be cut out, and a short tube 
inserted, which can be confined in position by means of 
tape passed around the neck. When the obstruction is 
removed, or the fauces restored to their natural state, 
remove the tube, bring the edges of the integuments to- 
gether, and sew them up." — Dr, Dadd, 



Fhysicing. 129 

phtsicing. 

This is often necessary — but it has injured the consti- 
tution and destroyed thousands of animals, when unneces- 
sarily or improperly resorted to. When the horse comes 
from grass to dry feed, or from the open air to the heat- 
ed stable, and is becoming too fat, or has surfeit, or grease, 
or mange, or is out of condition from inactivity of the 
digestive organs, a dose of physic is serviceable ; but the 
physicing of all horses, and the too frequent method of 
exercising the animal when under the operation of physic, 
cannot be too strongly condemned. 

A horse should be carefully prepared for the action of 
physic. Mashes should be given until the dung becomes 
Boftened. Five drachms of aloes, given when the dung 
has thus been softened, will act much more effectually 
and much more safely than seven drachms, when the 
lower intestines are obstructed by hardened dung. 

On the day on which the physic is given, the horse 
should have exercise, but after the physic begins to work, 
he should not be moved from his stall. 

A little hay may be put into the rack. As much mash 
should be given as the horse will eat, and as much water, 
with the coldness of it taken off, as he will drink. If he 
refuses to drink warm water, it is better that he should 
have it cold, than to continue without taking any fluid ; 
but in such case he should not be suffered to take more 
than a quart at a time, with an interval of at least an hour 
between each draught. The cleansing powder will be 
found an excellent physic. The Barbadoes aloes, although 
sometimes very dear, should alone be used. The dose, 
with a horse properly prepared, will vary from four to 
seven drachms. 



130 The Hoese Farriek. 

DOCKIXG. 

The horse's tail is regarded by some as a useless appen- 
dage, and fashion requires it should be shortened. The 
tail was given to the horse to fight the blood-sucking 
flies. There can be no question of its utility to the horse. 
To dock it, deprives him of a portion of his strength, and 
he has no protection from flies, which for two months of 
the year are exceedingly annoying. 

"The animal should be cast, and brought under the 
influence of chloroform ; the point of amputation having 
been selected, the operator feels for a joint or articula- 
tion, just posterior to which he commences a circular in- 
cision, carrying the knife right round the tail to the point 
of commencement, cutting down to the fascia. The in- 
teguments are then to be forcibly drawn upwards, while 
the operator disarticulates the joint by making an incis- 
ion right through it. The coccygeal arteries are to be 
drawn out mth a pair of forceps, and secured by liga- 
ture. The integuments, instead of being retracted above 
the lower end of the bone, are now below it, and thus 
can be made to protect it from mjuries. Two or three 
stitches are now needed to approximate the edges of the 
wound, and the operation is finished, without much loss 
of blood, and with httle if any pain to the subject. The 
after treatment is very simple ; cold water, or some tinc- 
ture of aloes, will complete the cure. If they should 
not, owing to profuse suppuration, use pyroligneous acid, 
and give a dose of medicme." 

mCKIXG. 

Nicking is another fashionable barbarism that very few 
horses escape. The world of horsemen have decided, no 



Blaze or Stae. 131 

tail no horse ; and if an animal does not describe an an- 
gle of forty-five with his tail, he is said to carry none. 

The usual mode of operating, is to make a sub-cuta- 
neous section of the muscles, the use of which is to de- 
press the tail. The knife is introduced as near to the an- 
us as possible on one side of the tail, between the bone 
and muscle ; then, with a sort of sawing motion — the 
back of the knife being towards the bones — the muscle 
is divided, which may be known by the edge of the knife 
coming in contact with the integuments. This is repeat- 
ed on the other side, and the operation is finished. The 
horse is generally fettered by a rope from the neck, se- 
cured to each hind leg ; he has also a twitch on the nose. 
It not unfrequently happens that horses lose an enor- 
mous quantity of blood after the operation ; but that re- 
sults from want of anatomical knowledge. The coccy- 
geal arteries are severed, which the surgeon knows how 
to avoid. Amateur operators often find that the subject 
of their experiment is seized with locked-jaw ; and in 
other cases the tail curves laterally towards the body. 
In the former, some unnecessary mangling has been per- 
formed, and in the latter case, one of the curvatores coc- 
cygis has been partly or wholly severed, which allows the 
associate muscle on the other side to draw the tail that 
way. Hence the necessity for skillful operators. 

BLAZE OR STAR. 

When we have a pair of horses that match well in every 
respect, except that one has a blaze or star in the face, it 
becomes very interesting and important to know how to 
make their faces match. 

Take a piece of oznaburgs the size you want the blaze 
or star : spread it with warm pith and apply it to the 



132 The Horse Farrier. 

horse's face : let it remain two or three days, by which 
time it will hr'mg off the hair clean, and make the part a 
little tender ; then take of elixir vitriol a small quantity ; 
then anoint the part two or three times ; or, of a very 
common weed called asmart, a small handful, bruise it 
and add to it about a gill of water, use it as a wash until 
the face gets well, when the hair will grow out entirely 
white. 

TO SPOT A WHITE HORSE WITH BLACK SPOTS. 

Take Htharage, three ounces ; quick lime, six ounces ; 
beat it fine and mix it together ; put it into a pan and 
pour a sharp ley over it ; then boil it and you will have 
a fat substance swim on top, with which anoint the horse 
in such places as you design to have black, and it will 
turn to the color immediately. 

DESCRIPTION OF A SKELETON OF A HORSE. 

A The Head, 

a The posterior maxillary or under jaw. 

b The superior maxillary or upper jaw. A little lower down than the letter Is a 
foramen, through which pass the nerves and blood-vessels which chiefly sup- 
ply the lower part of the face, 

c The orbit, or cavity containing the eye. 

d The nasal bones, or bones of the nose. 

e The suture dividing the parietal bones below from the occipital bones above. 

/ The inferior maxillary bone, containing the upper incisior teeth, 

B The Seven Cervical Vertebrae, or bones of the neck. 

The Eighteen Dorsal Vertebrae, or bones of the back. 
D The Six Lumbar Vertebra;, or bones of the loins. 

E The Five Sacral Vertebrae, or bones of the haunch. 

F The Caudal Vertebrte, or bones of the tail, generally about fifteen. 

G The Scapula, or Shoulder-Blade. 

H The Sternum, or fore part of the chest. 

1 The Costae, or ribs, seven or eight articulating with the sternum, and called the 

tniA ribs, and ten or eleven united together by cartilage, called the/alse ribs. 
J The Humerus, or upper bone of the arm. 
K The lladius, or upper bone of the arm, 

L The Ulna, or elbow. The point of the elbow is called the Olecranon. 
M The Carpus, or knee, consisting of seven bones, 
N The Metacarpal bones. The larger metacarpal, or cannon, or shank in front, and 

the smaller metacarpal, or splint bone behind. 



Skeleton of a Horse. 



133 




g The fore pastern and foot, consisting of the Os Suffraginis, or the upper and 
larger pastern bone, with the sesamoid bones behind, articulating with the 
cannon and greater pastern ; the Os Coronae, or lesser pastern ; the Os Pedis, 
or coffin bone ; and the Os Naviculare, or Navicular, or shuttle-bone, not seen, 
and articulating with the smaller pastern and coffin bones. 

h The corresponding bones of the hind feet. 

O The Haunch, consisting of three portions, the Ilium, the Ischium, and the Pubis. 

P The Femur, or Thigh. 

Q The Stifle-joint with the Patella. 

E The Tibia, or proper leg bone— behind is a small bone called the fibula. 

8 The Tarsus, or Hock, composed of six bones. The prominent part is the Os 
Oalcis, or point of the hock. 

T The Metatarsals of the hind leg. 



CHAPTER VII. 



DISEASES OF THE BEAIN, EESPIEATOEY ORGANS &KD 
Am PASSAGES. 



STAGGERS AND APOPLEXY. 

A want of balance In the circulation of the blood, 
an unnatural quantity going to the brain, so overcomes 
its energies that the diseases mentioned at the head of 
this chapter follow. They differ only in degree, and may 
arise from different conditions. Where the animal is vig- 
orous, well fed, and full of fluids, active congestion will 
be present, but when poorly fed, and reduced in flesh; a 
loss of energy of the brain may be followed by passive 
congestion. 

Violent exercise, such as heavy loads and hard drives, 
tight collars, too tight curb reins, any cause that forces 
too much blood to the head or prevents its return by the 
viens, may be causes of this disease, also after long fasting; 
too much food unnaturally distending the stomach, sym- 
pathetically afiecting the brain, will produce it. 

STAGGERS. 

Megrims is the mildest of these affections. 

Symptoms. — Y7hen the horse is dravvm quickly, he will 
stop suddenly, shake the head and show symptoms of 



Apoplexy. 135 

giddiness. This may soon pass over and he may go on as 
if nothing had occurred. If more serious, he may fall to 
the ground or suddenly turn several times around first; 
he may lie quiet, or struggle violently. If it be a horse 
of full habit, well fed, three or four quarts of blood better 
be drawn at once. 

Tbeatment — Cease using him for a time, give mild 
physic, such as physic ball, powdered aloes, 6 drachms, a 
little honey to make the powder tenacious enough to ad- 
minister, physic or drench pulverized aloes, 6 drachms, 
syrup of bucthorn, 1 ounce, tincture ginger, 1 ounce, or cro- 
ton oil from 20 to 30 drops. Give an occasional laxitive 
ball, powdered aloes, 3 drachms, powdered sulphur, 1 do., 
powdered mandrake 2 do. 

To be formed into a bolus with honey or mucilage. 
Stop hearty and dry feed, and let mashes and green feed 
be substituted. If not cured at first, the animal will be 
useless, as the diseased action will become fixed. Severe 
cold weather in winter, by determining the blood to the 
brain, predisposes to this disease. 

APOPLSXT. 

Apoplexy is a serious form of the diseases we have 
mentioned. 

The S>ymptoins which mark its approach are loss of 
appetite, dullness, stupidity, a somewhat staggering gait, 
he stands vvdth his head down, or rests it on his manger 
and seems balancing and ready as often he does to sud- 
denly fall, he is sleepy, eye duU, he chews his lock of 
hay for a moment and relapses into a stupor ; as the dis- 
ease advances his breathing becomes slow, loud and 
labored, the pulse is slow, the veins in the neck full, the 
mouth cold, and death closes the scene. 

Post mortem examination of the brain reveals a highly 
congested condition of the blood vessels of the brain. 

The Treatment. — Bleed very copiously, if the 
horse be strong and vigorous, followed by active purging, 
with such articles as we have indicated in megrims or 
staggers, together with rest and light food. If the ani- 



136 The Horse Farrier. 

mal be naturally feeble, if bled it had better be sparingly 
and be content with physic and laxatives. One grain of 
strychnine, 3 times a day, might give tone to the nervous 
system combined with 12 grains of flowers of zinc. The 
animal probably will never be fit for hard service. 

PHRENTIS OR INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 

By Phrentis we understand inflammation of the sub- 
stance of the brain and its investing membranes. 

Symptoms. — Hanging of the head, dullness, watery 
eyes, and sleepiness ; he is letharic, droops his head ; if 
aroused, he stares around and then slumbers again. This 
state does not ordinarily last but a few hours, or at most 
afew days. A new train of symptoms manifest themselves. 
He is wide awake, to sound his ears are up and his eyes 
glare, he is restless, paws and moves about, whinners, 
dashes, plunges, bites and kicks; thus he continues until 
water compresses the brain or its substance. Sufier lesion, 
when exhaustion, stupor and sleep, show a tendency to a 
fatal issue. 

Treatment. — Bleed freely, purge freely. There is no 
disease that will bear copious purging with so much 
benefit as the one of which we are treating. 

HYDROPHOBIA OR MADNESS. 

This alarming and fatal disease results from the bite 
of a rabid animal, as the dog, cat, or wolf. 

Symptoms. — The horse stops, looks round, staggers 
and falls. He rises soon again, staggers and falls, soon 
he becomes furious, stamping and biting, and endeav- 
oring to demohsh everything around him. Like the 
human being, the horse has a dread of water — the dread 
seems to arise from the severe spasms of the muscles 
called into action in the act of diglutition, and not from 
any dread of the water by itself considered. When fully 
established, this disease is considered incurable. 

When it is known that the animal has been bitten, 
cauterize the wound freely and deeply with nitrate of 
silver, wash it out with chloride of soda. 



Influenza or Horse- Ail. 137 

The disease may remain latent for weeks or months 
before showing itself, hence the necessity of closely 
watching the animal, if bitten or sui^posed to be bitten, 
for some time. Scullcap has won some reputation as a 
preventive, when an animal was bitten, but it has lost its 
reputation. 

IXFLUENZA OR HORSE-AIL. 

This disease is most prevalent in cold, ungenial weath- 
er, and is most frequent in the spring — a cold, wet 
spring — and especially among young horses, and those 
in high condition, or made up for sale, or that have been 
kept in hot stables ; more generally in cities where a 
large number are kept. If a horse can pass through this 
disease and come out right side up, he can be safely 
recommended as one having been through the mill. It 
is, beyond doubt, contagious — sometimes raging over 
large districts, so that scarcely a stable escapes, and at 
others, being confined to a neighborhood. 

Symptoms. — Of these there is a great variety at its 
commencement. The first symptom is, debility. The 
horse appears dumpish, refuses to eat, mouth hot, pulse 
quick ; in the course of six or twelve hours, the pulse in- 
creases, appetite diminishes, legs and eye-lids swell, (usu- 
ally increase to about the third day.) This disease may 
end in distemper, chronic cough, a bad discharge from 
the nose, and inveterate cases in glanders. 

Treatment. — Give the animal the benefit of a pure at- 
mosphere. If the limbs are cold, give them a good rub- 
bing. If the pulse is full and strong, (not otherwise,) 
bleed with care. In some cases, it would be advisable 
to bleed from the eye, or mouth. Strict attention should 
be paid to the diet. No grain but mashes, gruel substi- 
tuted for water ; scalded shorts, green grass, and carrots, 
if they can be procured, if not, hay, offered with the hand, 
dipped in water salted. In some cases, it is necessary 
to force them to eat, or give them an injection of gruel. 



138 The Horse Fareiek. 

A plethoric horse should be half starved. If the throat 
is sore, rub it with warm vinegar and salt, or blister ; 
steam the nostrils, to encourage the discharge ; walk the 
horse a little, for exercise ; administer the following : 
Oil of Croton, five drops ; Nitrate of potassa, 4 to 6 
drachms ; Potassio-tartrate of antimony, 1 drachm ; spir- 
it of nitric ether, 4 drachms to 1 ounce ; solution of 
acetate of ammonia, 2 to 4 ounces; warm water suf- 
ficient to make a draught. 

Sometimes four drachms of bi-tartrate of potassa may- 
be added to the above ; and, when the head appeared 
much affected, a drachm of camphor. This draught may 
generally be administered once, but sometimes twice a 
day, the croton oil being omitted after the first dose : 
after the first day, two drachms of powdered gentian may 
be added ; and after the second or third day, a ball may 
be substituted for the draught, consisting of : nitrate or 
potassa, 3 drachms ; potassio-tartrate of antimony, 1 
drachm ; powdered gentian root, 2 drachms ; powdered 
pimento berries, 1 drachm ; treacle sufficient to form a 
ball. 

SPASMS OF THE LARYNX AND LARYNGITIS. 

The larynx is an irregular cartilaginous tube, forming the 
upper extremity of the wind pipe, and is the organ 
which produces that peculiar sound called neighing. It 
aff'ords free j^assage in its normal state for respiration, 
and also attachment for numerous muscles. Its internal 
cavities are protected by the common membrane termed 
mucous^ which at times become the seat of a disease 
known as laryngitis. 

The disease appears to be analogous to croup (in the 
human family.) Spasm of the larynx may result from a 
mucous affection, induced by indigestion. 

Symtoms of Spasm of the Larnyx. — Sometimes the 
disease manifests itself in a moment, as it were, with a 
most terrible severity ; the animal begins to gasp for 



Spasms of the Larynx and Lakyngitis. 139 

breath ; the eyeballs protrude, and the neck is carried 
ill a line with the back ; the flanks heave with most 
excessive violence, and every tune the poor beast msprres 
air, a sound is emitted, which will vary in its character 
and intensity according to the vigor of tlie spasm. As 
the disease proceeds, the general symptoms become more 
violent — the mucous membrane of the mouth assumes 
a purple color ; the animal becomes partially unconscious ; 
he rushes wildly from place to place, as though seeking 
in vain for aid ; the body becomes suffused with streamy 
perspiration. Youatt says, in acute Jaryngitis the blood 
must be abstracted, fi'om the jugular vein, copiously, 
depending on the degree of inflammation, and not for- 
getting that he has to do with inflammation of the mu- 
cous membrane, and that what he does he must do 
quickly ; bleed, until the pulse flutters or the coustitution 
is evidently affected. 

'Next must be given the fever medicine, the digitalis, 
nitre, and emetic tartar, with aloes. Aloes may here be 
safely given, because the chest is not yet implicated. To 
this must be added, and immediately, a blister, and a 
sharp one. The surgeon is sure of the part, and he can 
bring his counter-irritant almost into contact with it. 

Treat2.ient. — Nauseants, counter-irritants and trach- 
eotomy are the principal agents, in view of immediate 
relief. When the patient is attacked suddenly, and 
shows all the v/orst features of the disease, he can only 
be relieved by a surgical operation called tracheotomy. 
The operation is not considered a dangerous one, yet the 
services of a qualified person are indispensable; as also 
in cases which result from the presence of morbid 
grov/ths in the vicinity of the larynx, surgical skill must 
be sought. Lobelia is considered a very good relaxant ; 
it is extolled very highly by some physicians for the cure 
of asthmatical complaints, and for relaxing rigid parts ; 
it has been used for a number of years on all classes of do- 
mestic animals, and we consider it a valuable anti-spasmodic. 
A strong infusion of lobeha can be brought m contact 
with the horse's nostrils by means of a sponge, and perhaps 



140 The Horse Farrier. 

prove as beneficial as ether. Counter irritants, applied 
externally in the region of the throat and chest, are gen- 
erally recommended; the common hartshorn liniment, 
essence of mustard, or a mixture composed of equal parts 
of olive oil, tincture of capsicum, and lobelia, are among 
the most efficient remedies for this purpose. The rectum 
must be kept empty, by stimulating clysters ; all food to 
be withheld until the worst symptoms are past, when 
some thin gruel, sweetened with honey, may be allowed, 
cold or warm, as the season permits, very good for re- 
lieving larjTigitis, applied by means of sponges to the 
throat. 

In chronic cases, when the glandular organs around 
the throat are swollen, a stimulating liniment will be in- 
dicated, which should be rubbed in, night and morning, 
the animal to have a nutritious diet, and to be drenched 
as follows : Balsam of fir, 1 ounce, sweet spirits of 
nitre, 2 ounces, syrup of garlic, 4 ounces, mix. 

Dose. — One sixth part to be given every night in a 
pint of thin gruel. 

PNEUMONIA OR INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 

In this disease there are three well marked stages. 

1st. That of congestion. 

2d. When inflammation is fully developed. 

3d. That of suppuration or formation of matter. 

In the 1st stage the vessels are merely engorged with 
blood and the air-cells partly filled with a sero-mucus 
bloody efiusion. 

In the 2d stage the disease in the lungs has advanced 
and a plastic extravasation has taken place in the air- 
cells, and the tissue connecting them are filled with a 
bloody concrete lymph. 

In the 3d stage the place of the plastic secretion has 
been supplied by a purulent fluid. 

The disease may afiect one lung or both, being much 
more grave in the latter case. 



PNEUMONIA OR INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 141 

The causes of pneumonia, are sudden transitions from 
heat to cold, a change from a warm stable to a colder one; 
the most frequent is leaving the horse to stand in a brisk 
wind, after hard driving, or being in a free perspiration. 
This sudden check to perspiration causes the blood to 
recede from the surface and crowds it hurtfuUy on inter- 
nal parts, producing bronchitis, pneumonia or pleurisy. 

Symptoms. — It is usually ushered in by a shivering fit, 
the horse is cold all over, reaction after a time takes 
place and the body becomes warmer than natural, but 
the extremities remain intensely cold ; this condition 
peculiarly marks the disease ; it is an early symptom com- 
mencing in its incipient or forming stage. The pulse 
at first is often oppressed and obscure, without much 
acceleration in its motion. The breathing is quick ; he 
feels the need of pure air, for the air cells being more 
or less obstructed, the atmospheric air is not brought in 
contact with the blood, to efi*ect in the latter that 
change so essential to life ; the animal refuses to lie down 
because every muscle that aids in respiration is called 
into action, and those of the spine and shoulders can 
be used more advantageously as he stands. 

If when wearied out he lies down, it is but for a mo- 
ment. 

It may be regarded as a favorable symptom to find 
in the morning that the horse was down during the 
night. 

It may not be an easy matter to distinguish pneu- 
monia fi'om pleurisy, and in fact they are often united. 

Pleurisy is a more acutely painful disease ; auscultation 
here would be valuable. 

In pneumonia healthy murmur is changed to a crepita- 
ting or crackling sound, and wherever heard will indicate 
the extent of the disease. 

As the disease advances and lympth is poured out, the 
lung becomes hepatized or hard like liver, and over such 
points no respiratory murmur will be heard, for no air 
permeates such portions. By a careful comparison of res- 



ltl:2 The Horse Farrier. 

piration on each side of the horse, you may know very sat- 
isfactorily whether one or both hnigs are diseased. 

If the disease still progresses, those inflamed and heap- 
atized portions sappiirate, an abscess forms, and matter 
may be discharged by coughing. 

In pleurisy, the air cells are not implicated, and the res- 
piratory murmur will be heard at first over the whole of 
the lungs. (The reader will bear in mhid that the thin 
membrane which covers the lungs and lines the in- 
side of the chest is called the pleura, and that in- 
flammation of this membrane is pleurisy.) A dry friction 
sound will ha heard in the commencement of pleurisy. 
Plastic lympth may exude from the inflamed surface, or 
the vessels may relieve themselves by j^ouring out water 
between the lung and side, the respiratory murmur disap- 
pearing in proportion as the water accumulates. 

Treatment. — This may be commenced by a good 
bleeding, but to be of much service it should be done at 
the commencement of the disease, followed by emetic 
tartar and nitre. A drachm of the former and three of the 
latter every eight hours, equalize the circulation, by rub- 
bing the extremities, giving light laxitive food, as bran 
mashes ; thr(5w warm blankets over the animal, hanging 
down to the floor, and place vessels of hot water in which 
put hot stones or bricks, and sweat freely, also opium and 
calomel, one scruple of the former and two of the latter 
twice a day. The sides of the chest may be thoroughly 
blistered, the irritation on the surface divertmg the in- 
flammation from the lungs. 

There is another article very efiicient in this disease in 
the human subject, and I think it must operate equally 
favorable on animals. I refer to the Veratrum Virid^. 
The tmcture, as prepared by Dr. W. C. Norwood, or the 
extract, as prepared by Tilden & Co., N. Y. 

This medicine may confidently be relied on to control 
the actions of the heart and arteries, reducing the pulse 
in the human subject from 120 beats in a minute to 60 
or even 40. 

In giving this remedy, the pulse should be closely 



Pleurisy. 143 

watched, and when down to the natural standard, discon- 
tinued until it begins to arise again ; probably from twenty 
to sixty drops every four hours, until it produces slow- 
ness of pulse, would be an appropriate dose ; should much 
weakness follow an over dose, a dose or two of spirits 
would overcome the prostration. 

It must be observed here that cathartic medicine in 
this disease must be used with great caution, and a com- 
mon fault is to do too much ; the restoring powers of na- 
ture are ignored, dose follows dose in unjustifiable rapid- 
ity ; blood is shed with fearful profusion, and the suifering 
animal sinks under the combined attack of disease and 
injudicious treatment. 

In regard to blood letting, as we said at the commence- 
ment, one judicious abstraction of blood would be advi- 
sable ; its repetition would depend upon the strength of 
the pulse and appearance of the blood first drawn ; if this 
is free from a sizy thick buffy coat, its repetition is 
uncalled for, neither will the opposite condition always war- 
rant it. Rowels and setons are too slow in their opera- 
tion to meet the urgent symptoms, and are only beneficial 
when the disease becomes chronic. 

PLEUP.IST. 

The treatment proper for pneumonia, as a general rule, 
will be applicable to pleurisy. Bleeding is called for more 
urgently in the latter disease, and will be better borne 
than in pure inflammation of the lungs ; if water accumu- 
late in the chest, the case is not hopeless ; a povf der, com- 
posed of squill, calomel, and nitre, repeated three or four 
times a day, will accelerate the absorption of the fluid ; 
blisters also to the chest Avill be appropriate. 

After recovery from either of these diseases, the patient 
should be treated with care and great tenderness for some 
time ; all hard exercises, fast drives and exposures to wet 
or cold, should be sedulously guarded against, by giving 
the parts diseased time to heal and become sound; 



144 The Horse Farrier. 

chronic irritations indicated by short breathing and 
troublesome coughs, will be avoided. 
coNSU]yrPTioN. 

This malady extends alike to horses as to human sub- 
jects. It is not hereditary, but the conformations which 
lead to this disease are, and thus far the disease. 

If a narrow-chested, flat-sided horse is attacked by in- 
flammation of the lungs, or severe catarrhal fever, ex- 
perience tells us that we shall have more difliculty in sub- 
duing the disease in him, than in one deeper in the girth 
or rounder in the chest. 

If such animals, however, are used in the comitry where 
they have the advantage of pure air, simple yet nutri- 
tious food, and judicious management, they may live to 
the average age of horses generally. There are locations 
that are favorable to the development of consumption, 
such as low, wet lands, where the humid atmosphere pre- 
vents a full and free evaporation of the insensible per- 
spiration ; such an atmosphere is no less injurious than 
that of a crowded, unventilated stable. 

The principal cause of this disease will be found in the 
evils of domestication. Numerous instances have been 
known where the horse and cattle that have been subject 
to these and kindred diseases have entirely recovered by 
their removal from low, damp stables to dry, warm and 
airy ones. 

Symptoms. — The horse is sadly emaciated — he long 
continues so — his coat stares — his skin clings to his ribs 
— his belly is tucked up, notwithstanding that he may 
have plenty of mashes, and carrots, and green meat, and 
medicine — his former gaiety and spirit do not return, or 
if he is willing to work, he is easily tired, sweating on 
the least exertion, and the sweat most profuse about the 
chest and sides — his appetite is not restored, or, perhaps, 



Strangles ob Horse Distemper. 145 

never has been good, and the slightest exertion puts him 
completely off his feet. The flanks heave a little more 
laboriously — heaving is painfully quickened when sudden 
exertion is required — he coughs sorely, and discharges 
from the nose a mucus tinged with blood, or a fluid de- 
cidedly purulent — the breath becomes offensive — the 
pulse is always above 40, and strangely increased by the 
slightest exertion. 

Treatment. — If in the spring of the year, a run of 
grass may be tried — invigorate the system by good nu- 
tritious food — gentle exercise, pure air, and if the weath- 
er be cold, warm clothing, with the addition of oat-meal, 
pea-meal, linseed-meal, wheat flour, mixed with a liberal 
quantity of salt — this will aid digestion, and abstract fluids 
from the body. Should the excrements be voided wtth 
difficulty or knotty, an injection of soap and water will 
be advisable. Milk should be given about one quart per 
day. In case of great prostration, milk should be given 
with care. The digestive apparatus may be involved in 
the deterioration of the system, and be unable to digest 
the fatty constituent, (butter ;) hence, in the exhibition 
of a daily allowance of milk, attention must be paid to 
the nutritive function, or such a simple article as milk 
may prove a barrier to affecting a cure. In such a case, 
to one pint of milk add two ounces of lime water — give 
twice a day. 

For the medical treatment of this disease use phosphate 
of lime — powdered bloodroot — powdered pleurisy root — 
powdered Indian turnip — powdered goldenseal, 2 ounces 
of each — powdered slippery elm, 1 pound — mix, and di- 
vide the mass into twenty-four powders ; one to be given 
in the food every night. 

STRANGLES OR HORSE DISTEMPER. 

This disease is principally incident to young horses — 
usually appearing between the fourth and fifth year, and 
oftenerinthe spring than at any other time — it occasionally 
attacks old animals. Few horses escape its attack ; but, 
the disease having passed over, the animal is free from it 



146 TiiK lIoKrii: Farhier. 

for the remainder of his life. This disease is usually con- 
sidered contagious, but we are not clear on this point, but 
it will be Yv^ell to separate the patient from healthy ani- 
mals. This we would recommend in aH cases of catarrhal 
affection. 

Symptoms. — It is is generally preceded by cough with 
a discharge from the nostrils of a yellowish color, mixed 
with pus, generally without smell, the membrane of the 
nose intensely red, a swelling under the throat which in- 
creases, accompanied by a fever — a disinclination to eat 
— a considerable thirst, but after a gulp or two the horse 
ceases to drink. In attempting to swallow, a convulsive 
cough comes on, which threatens to suffocate the animal, 
mouth hot ; tongue coated with white fur. The tumor 
under the jaw and about the centre of the channel soon 
tills the whole space, and is evidently one uniform body, 
and may thus be distinguished from glanders, or the en- 
larged glands of catarrh. In a few days it becomes more 
prominent and soft, and evidently contains a fluid. This 
rapidly increases ; the tumor bursts, and a great quan- 
tity of pus is discharged. As soon as the tumor has bro- 
ken, the cough subsides, and the horse speedily mends, 
although some degree of weakness may hang about him 
for considerable time. 

Teeatmext. — As soon as the tumor under the jaw is 
decidedly apparent, the part should be actively blistered. 
It should be waslied off as soon as it rises, and if rej^eated in 
a day or two, this will abate the internal inflammation 
and soreness of the throat aud promote the suppurative 
process ; (when the glands remain hard and do not suppu- 
rate, it may lead to glanders, in which case the use of 
lodme Ointment as an outward ai^i^Hcationandhydriodate 
of potash in daily doses of ten to forty grains, combined 
with tonics will be fomid useful as an internal application.) 

As soon as the swelling is soft on its summit, and evi- 
dently contams matter, it should be freely and deeply 
lanced, after which aj>ply a Imseed poultice. If the in- 
cision is deep and large enough, no second collection of 



Bkonchitis. 147 

matter will be formed : and that which is already there 
may be suffered to run out slovvdy, all pressure with the 
fingers being avoided. The part should be kept clean. 
The appetite will return with the opening of the abscess. 
Bran-mashes, or fresh cut grass should be liberally sup- 
plied, which will not only afford sufficient nourishment to 
recruit the strength of the animal, but keep the bowels 
gently open. If the weakness is not great, no farther 
medicine will be wanted, except a dose of mild physic, in 
order to prevent the swellings or eruptions which some- 
times succeed to strangles. In cases of debility, a small 
quantity of tonic medicine, as camomile, gentian, or 
ginger may be administered. 

ISTo. 2. Bleed and physic ; if it does not break, apply 
the General Liniment, or the White Ointment ; after it 
has broke, give the Cleansing Powder for ten or twelve 
days in mashes. 

No. 3. Give one half pound of gland salts for six 
days, dissolved m hot water, and mix with meal. If the 
disease is very bad, bleed, 3 or 4 quarts. 

No. 4. Homoepathic treatment. Fever symptoms, 
Aconite, 10 to 15 drops, once an hour, when allayed, 
arsenicum, 12 to 15 drops. 

BRONCHITIS. 

Veterinarians recognize this disease under three as- 
pects, viz : 

1. Acute, as when the horse is suddenly attacked with 
an irritable cough and sore throat ; a quick, wiry pulse ; 
membranes of the nose and mouth redder than usual ; 
accelerated respiration ; great anxiety of countenance, 
&c., &c. 

2. Chronic bronchitis, which sets in after the acute 
has subsided; this stage is marked by a discharge of 
watery and sometimes mucous fluid from the nose ; the 
act of respiration is jDerformed with a sort of wheezing 
noise, of which they are somewhat reh'eved in the act 
of coughing. 



148 The Horse Farrier. 

3. The third variety has been named epidemic bron- 
chitis. This variety is remarkable for the emission of 
copious discharges from the nose, at one time turning 
yellow, at another green, and then again white. In this 
form the disorder is exceedingly apt to assume the 
chronic type, and, after continuing for a length of time, 
to leave the animal reduced in flesh, and much debilitated. 
Heaves may be the result of bronchitis, which leaves 
the upper air passages in a contracted state, or else thick- 
ens their lining membrane. The natural termination of 
this disease, if unchecked, is in pneumonia. 

Treatment, in the active stage, may be the same as in 
pneumonia or drachm doses of powdered lobelia seeds 
twice a day, with warmth and moisture to the external 
surface until we know that it has taken effect from the soft- 
ness of the pulse, by demulcent, such as slippery elm. 
Counter irritants applied in the vicinity of the throat or 
chest will afford relief; when a relaxing effect is desired, 
use one pint of vinegar to 2 ounces of powdered lobelia ; 
let it warm over a slow fire, and apply to the throat two 
or three times a day ; encircle the throat with a piece of 
soft flannel. Keep the bowels loose by sloppy diet, sea- 
soned with salt. Fine feed scalded and given to the animal 
while warm, is beneficial, or instead of the above a blis- 
ter applied over the brisket and sides, and up the trached 
to the larynx, will afford relief. The use of setons in the 
brisket near the termination of the windpipe are of ma- 
terial service. 

CATARRH. 

Catarrh frequently arises from exposures, or changes 
so trifling, that they would not be supposed of the least 
importance by one unaccustomed to horses. Some sup- 
pose that cold and exposure are the sole causes of catarrh ; 
yet it is a well-known fact, that many horses take cold, 
even though they have not, mthin several days, some 



Nasal Gleet. 149 

times weeks, been in a situation where cold could be 
taken after this fashion ; in short, have not left their warm, 
comfortable stables. But we must remember that a 
high temperature is just as likely to bring on a cold as 
any other cause, especially when the subject has been 
liberally fed ; catarrh, in general, oftener arises from heat 
than cold. But an insalubrious atmosphere may be set 
down as the chief cause of common colds. 

Syjiptoms. — A discharge from the nostrils, increased 
redness of the membrane, lining the nostrils ; oozing of 
tears from the corners of the eyes ; swellings underneath 
the jaws; snorting; cough, with or without febrile 
disorder. 

Treatment. — If the patient is in good flesh and the 
weather is favorable, he may be turned out on green food 
in the day time, and taken up at night, and a brand mash 
given. If the weather be cold, let the patient have com- 
fortable quarters, a good bed blanket, legs rubbed and 
then bandaged with flannel ; for diet, scalded shorts. The 
soreness of the throat may be removed by the following : 
Olive oil, 8 ounces, oil of cedar, 1 ounce, appUed twice a 
day, a blistering, a fever ball or two, with a drachm of 
aloes in each, and a little antimony, will generally, set 
right ; keep the rectum open by an injection of warm 
water and soap ; physic should not be given without con- 
sideration ; blood letting in some cases may be resorted to 
with success. 

NASAL GLEET. 

Symptoms. — A discharge of thick, yellow mucus ; if at 
grass, it assumes a green color. At times it becomes 
purulent, tinged with blood, and if not arrested at this 
Btage, it may end in glanders. The discharge fluctuates 
vrith the weather : in dry, it sometimes subsides, and in- 
creases in wet and cold weather. If confined to the left 
nostril, it becomes tenacious, elastic, and accumulates 



150 TiiE Horse Fakriek. 

around the edges of the nasal ca^-ities, and is accompa- 
nied by enlargement of the gland, and drooping of the ear, 
we may be prepared for the worst ; for ten chances to one, 
if it does not terminate in glanders. 

Teeatmext. — >To 1. Take of alumn, one pound, rosin, 
one half pound, one half blue vitriol, grind and mix Yv-ith 
one half of ginger. Give one large spoonful every night 
and morning ; in some cases bleed. 

EOARING. 

Symptoms. — An unnatural, loud, grunting sound made 
by the animal in breathing, after a short gallop, pro- 
duced in the act of inspiration, caused by obstructions 
in the respiratory canal. Thickening of the membrane 
sometimes is the result of strangles, chronic cough, ca- 
tarrh, but more frequently is the result of tight reining, 
by keeping the windpipe m one position, or in the absorp- 
tion and paralyzation of the muscles, on one side, which 
assist in opening and enlarging the entrance to the larynx, 
by pulling back the arytenoid cartilages, as they are 
termed. The consequence of this is, that an obstruction 
takes place ; and, although the air can enter with suffi- 
cient rapidity when the animal is at rest, yet when 
respiration is hurried by exertion, a great noise is occa- 
sioned by the air passing through the narrow aperture 
with great rapidity. 

Teeat^ient. — Remember that, in every chronic case 
like this, the only hope of success depends on perseve- 
rance. Whatever means is adopted, give it a fair trial. 
Confirmed cases may be incurable. Those of recent date 
may be cured where the obstruction can be detected. It 
will be well to bleed, purge, and bhster over the affected 
parts ; when the physic acts, commence a course of fever 
medicine ; if no relief is afforded, in two or three weeks, 
change the treatment. If it arise from atrophy of the mus- 
cles, let them be stimulated daily with hartshorn hniment, 
or some such application, and frequent hard rubbing. If 
from tumors, let them l>j Vemoved. If the thyroid glands 
are enlarged, they should be rubbed daily with stimula- 



Common Cough. 151 

ting liniment, or ointment of iodine. The horse should 
at all times have the free nse of his head and neck, or the 
best treatment might fail. Should the cause of roaring 
evidently exist (below the fauces) either in the bronchii, 
trachea, or lungs, the operation of trachetomy may be 
preferred, which consists in making an opening into the 
trachea, and through it inserting a tube, which may be 
worn for any length of time, by taking the precaution to 
cleanse it occasionally. See Tracheotomy. 

COMMON COUGH. 

Cough is present, and often causes annoyance, in ca- 
tarrh, laryngitis, bronchitis, strangles, horse ail, &c. Is 
present also in cases of deranged digestive organs, aid 
when a quantity of worms are present in the digestive 
cavity. A common cough may attend various forms of 
disease. In cases of a catarrhal cliaracter, when a quan- 
tity of mucus accumulates in the respiratory passages, 
the act of coughing ejects it, and thus relieves the ani- 
mal ; therefore, a cough of this kind may be salutary 
rather than otherwise, and in that event needs no treat- 
ment. 

A sympathetic cough can only be cured by directing 
our remedies to the seat of the malady ; that cured, the 
cough ceases. 

It does not interfere with the treatment of any disease 
to use simple remedies to mitigate a cough, if it cause the 
patient some annoyance ; in this view I use powdered 
slippery elm, Indian turnip, powdered skunk cabbage, 
caraway seeds, of each 4 ounces. Dose, one half ounce 
twice a day in gruel. 

If the cough continues after the disappearance of pul- 
monary diseases, dissolve 1 ounce of balsam of fir in 
2 ounces of the sweet spirits of nitre, add 4 ounces of 
the syrup of garlic. Dose, one ounce, night and morn- 
ing, given in gruel. 

CHRONIC COUGH. 

Chronic cough is generally caused by long continued 
or neglected catarrh, or sore throat. 



162 The IIokse Farriek. 

thick wind. 

It is sometimes comiected with worms, sometimes 
glanders; is the necessary attendant of thick or 
broken wind. 

If a harsh hollow cough is accompanied by a staring 
coat, and the appearance of worms, — a few worm-balls 
may expel the worms, and remove the irritation of the 
intestinal canal. If it proceeds from irritability of the 
air passages, which will be discovered by the horse 
coughing after drinking, or when he first goes out of 
the stable in the morning, or by his occasionally snort- 
ing out thick mucus from the nose, medicines may be 
given, and sometimes with advantage, to diminish irrita- 
tion generally. Small doses of digitalis, emetic tartar, 
and nitre, administered every night, frequently have a 
beneficial effect, especially when mixed with tar. These 
balls should be regularly given for a considerable time. 
A blister, extending from the root of one ear to that of 
the other, and reaching six or eight inches down the 
windpipe, has been tried, and often with good efiect, on 
the supposition that the irritation may exist at the roots 
of the tongue. Feeding has much influence. Too much 
dry feed, and especially chaff, increases it. It is aggra- 
vated when the horse is suffered to eat his litter. One 
of the best remedies for an obstinate cough that bids fair 
to become chronic, is a seton under the throat, which 
should be kept seven or eight weeks. Carrots afford 
decided relief. 

When chronic cough chiefly occurs after eating, the 
seat of the disease is evidently in the substance of the 
lungs. In the violent effort of the lungs to discharge 
their functions, when laboring under congestion, irrita- 
tion is produced, and the act of coughing is the conse- 
quence. 

HEAVES OR BROIvEN WIND. 

A troublesome cough, and sometimes of long contin- 
uance, is the foundation of the disease, or indicates that 
irritable state of the bronchial membrane with which 



Heaves orw Broken Wind. 153 

broken wind is almost necessarily associated. Horses 
that are greedy feeders, or devour large quantities of 
slightly nutritious food, or are worked with a stomach 
distended by this food, are very subject to broken wind. 
The agricultural horse is too often fed on the very re- 
fuse of the farm, and his hours of feeding, and his hours 
of work, are frequently irregular. A rapid gallop on a 
full stomach has often produced broken wind. Flatulence, 
and a depraved appetite, is the consequence as well as the 
cause of broken- wind ; and there is no pathological fact 
of more frequent occurrence than the co-existence of in- 
digestion and flatulence with broken wind. The narrow 
chested horse is more subject to broken-wind than the 
broader and deeper chested one. 

Treatment. — Confirmed cases are incurable, but the 
disease may in some degree be palliated. We must res- 
tore digestion in order to cure indigestion. Attend 
carefully to the feeding. The food should lie in very small 
compass, plenty of oats, soaked 4 hours, with one pint of 
flax seed, and little hay, and this of the best quality ; 
if moistened with fresh chamberley, it improves it. Musty 
hay should never be given to a horse that has the heaves, 
and water should be given in moderate quantities. The 
horse should not be sufilered to drink as much as he likes 
until the day's work is over. Green feed will always be 
serviceable. Carrots are particularly useful. They are 
readily digested, and appear to have a peculiarly benefi- 
cial effect on the respiratory system. A broken-winded 
horse should always be watered from a bucket, regularly, 
three times a day ; and if he be a foul feeder, arm him 
with a muzzle, and only remove it at meal time. We oc- 
casionally allow a small quantity of garlic, say a couple 
of heads every other day, chopped fine, and mixed in the 
food. One drachm of tincture of aromatic sulphuric 
acid in a pint of water, night and morning, will be at- 
tended with good results, "in the mean time we put the 



154 The Hoiisi: Fakfji-.r. 

animal on a course of the following alterative medicine 
Powdered ginger, gentian, sulphur, salt, cream of tartar 
charcoal, licorice, elecampane, caraway seeds, and balm 
of Gilead buds, (chopped fine,) equal parts. Dose, one 
ounce every night in the food. 

No. 2. Take the young shoots or buds of white 
pine, say in May or June, boil them, when the liquor is 
cold, give the horse one pint a day for 10 days. 

No. 3. Take 180 grains of tartar emetic and divide 
into 3 equal doses, mix in wet brand, give once in two 
days ; this will alleviate, if not perfectly cure. 

No. 4. To 20 gallons of water, add one half pint of 
unslacked lime, give the horse no other drink ; to his 
grain, add 1 gill of vinegar, or one spoonful of ginger ; 
apples are excellent for a horse that has the heaves ; 
good cured corn stalk will generally relieve the disease. 

No. 5. Take 1 pint of alcohol and put in all the tar 
it will cut, give two table spoonsfull, every morning 
one hour before feeding, for 10 or 11 days. Another rem- 
edy is to put tar on the grmders once a day. 

BLISTERING. 

The principle on which they cut is, that too intense in- 
flammation cannot exist in neighboring parts, and like- 
wise increase the activity of the neighboring vessels. In- 
flammations should be met promptly, with blistering. 
Old enlargements and swellings can be removed by mild- 
er stimulants, such as sweating down the part to be blis- 
tered. The hair should be shaved, and the ointment 
thoroughly rubbed in. Care should be taken that the 
horse cannot hurt himself. After twenty-four hours, a 
little olive or neat's foot oil should be applied over the 
bhster. Apply the oil, morning and night, until the scab 
peels off. Where there is a tendency to grease, blister- 
ing is dangerous. In the whiter, care should be used 
that the horse does not take cold in the part blistered. 



CHAPTER VIII 



DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS, AND DIGESTIVE CAVITY. 



INFLA3OIATI0N OF THE KIDNEYS. 

Symptoms. — A constant desire to void urine, although 
only passed in small quantities, highly colored, and some- 
times tinged with blood, though more generally quite 
natural. There is usually a peculiar stiffness in the hind 
extremities, especially when the horse is made to describe 
a circle. Pressure on the loins elicit symptoms of pain, 
and the pulse and respirations denote febrile symptoms. 

The Treatment will only vary from that of inflamma- 
tion of other parts by a consideration of the peculiarity 
of the organ affected. Bleeding may be promptly re- 
sorted to. An active purge should next be administered, 
and a counter-inflammation excited as nearly as possible 
to the seat of disease. For this purpose, the loins should 
be fomented with hot water, or covered with a mustard- 
poultice — the horse should be warmly clothed ; no di- 
uretic should be given internally. One of the best ap- 
plications to the loins is a fresh sheep skin, the skin side 
inwards. This will very soon cause and keep up a con- 
siderable perspiration, which may be continued by means 
of a fresh skin in the course of twelve hours. With re- 
gard to internal medicines, one of the best sedatives is 
the white hellebore, in doses of a scruple twice a day. 
The bowels should be opened by means of an aperient 



156 The Horse Farrier. 

draught, and abundance of linseed tea should be given, 
so as to sheath the irritated parts. The patient should 
be warmly clothed ; his legs well bandaged, and plenty 
of water offered to him. The food should be carefully 
examined, and anything that could have excited, or that 
may prolong the irritation, carefully removed. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 

This is a very rare but exceedingly dangerous disease. 
There are two varieties of this disease, inflammation of 
the body of the bladder, and of its neck. The symptoms 
are nearly the same with those of inflammation of the 
kidney, except that there is rarely a total suppression of 
urine, and there is heat felt in the rectum over the situa- 
tion of the bladder. The causes are, the presence of some 
acrid or irritant matter in the urine, or of calculus or 
stone in the bladder. In inflammation of the neck of the 
bladder, there is the same frequent voiding of urine in 
small quantities, generally appearing in an advanced stage 
of the disease, and often ending in almost total suppres- 
sion. There is this circumstance which can never be mis- 
taken : the bladder is distended with urine, and can be 
distinctly felt under the rectum. It is spasm of the part, 
closing the neck of the bladder so powerfully that the 
contraction of the bladder and the pressure of the mus- 
cles are unable to force out the urine. 

The Treatment in this case will be the same as in in- 
flammation of the kidneys, except that it is of more con- 
sequence that the animal should drink freely of water or 
thin gruel. 

The irritation being great, it is almost impossible to 
keep any soothing application in the bladder, the contents 
of which are being continually ejected. Recourse, there- 
fore, must be had to very copious bleeding, so as to en- 
deavor to check the inflammation which exists, as 
well as to assuage the irritation, which forbids local 
measures. It will assist, to administer calomel, combined 
with opium and tartarized antimony, two scruples of each 
being given three times a day. The same means may be 



Lfl«XAMMATION OF StOMACH AND BoWELS. 157 

adopted when inflammation attacks the neck of the blad- 
der, and the spasm prevents its evacuation. The bladder 
of a mare may be readily evacuated by means of a cath- 
eter ; and, by the aid of the elastic and flexible catheter, 
the bladder of the gelding can also be discharged, though 
the operation requires some tact and skill, 

IN-FLAM:SfATION OF THE STOMACH AND BOWELS. 

There are two varieties of this malady. The first is 
inflammation of the external coats of the intestines, called 
peritonitis accompanied by considerable fever, and usually 
costiveness. The second is that of the internal or mu- 
cous coat, called enteritis. 

The muscular coat is that which is oftenest aflbcted. 
Inflammation of the external coats of the stomach, whether 
the peritoneal or muscular, or both, is a very frequent 
and fatal disease. It speedily runs its course, and it is of 
great consequence that its early symptoms should be 
known. 

The causes o^jyeritonitis are both numerous and various. 
We have seen that colic may give rise to it. Constipa- 
tion may be viewed in the light, both of cause and efiect, 
in its relation to it. Collected hardened faeces must nat- 
urally not only of themselves be irritative, but obstruct- 
tive and subversive of the functions of the bowels, and in 
either one or the other way may lay the foundation for 
an attack of inflammation. Certain kinds of indigestible 
food, calculous bodies, irritathig matter of any sort, with- 
in the bowels, may cause an inflammation of them. Ob- 
struction of any of their passages — whether it be from 
the lodgment and immovableness of the matters they con- 
tain, or from entanglement of the intestines, or intus-sus- 
cejition — must in the end occasion inflammation. Over-fa- 
tigue, and consequent excessive irritation in the bowels, 
will bring it on. 

Symptoms. — There is some analogy between the symp- 
toms of this disease and colic ; there is, however, one 
marked feature of the case which enables us to diagnose 



158 TilK IIOKSE Fai:i;[KI;. 

the disease with some degree of certaint)^, for when in- 
flammation has fairly set in, there is little, if any, remission 
of pain ; whereas, in colic, the pains are of a spasmodic 
character, so that the animal at times is quite easy. The 
pulse, in inflammation of the bowels, is small, Arm, and 
quick increasing in beat as the disease increases in in- 
tensity. 

" The next stage borders on delirium. The eye acquires 
a wild, haggard, unnatural stare — the pupil dilates — his 
heedless and dreadful throes render approach to him quite 
perilous. He is an object not only of compassion but of 
apprehension, and seems fast hurrying to his end ; when, 
all at once, in the midst of agonizing torments, he stands 
quiet, as though every pain had left him, and he were go- 
ing to recover. His breathing becomes tranquilized — 
his pulse sunk beyond all perception — his body bedewed 
with a cold, clammy sweat — he is in a tremor from head 
to foot, and about the legs and ears has even a death-like 
feel. The mouth feels deadly chill ; the lips drop pendu- 
lous; and the eye seems unconscious of objects. In fine, 
death, not recovery, is at hand. Mortification has seized 
the mflamed bowel — pain can no longer be felt in that 
which, a few minutes ago, was the seat of exquisite suf- 
fering. He again becomes convulsed, and in a few more 
struggles, less violent than the former, he expires. 

Treatment. — The treatment should be prompt and 
energetic. The first and most powerful means of cure 
will be bleeding. From six to eight quarts of blood 
should be abstracted as soon as possible ; and the bleed- 
ing repeated, if the pain is not relieved and the pulse has 
not become rounder and fuller. Weakness is the conse- 
quence of violent inflammation of these parts ; and if that 
inflammation is subdued by the loss of blood, the weakness 
will disappear. The bleeding should be elfected on the 
first appearance of the disease. 

A strong solution of aloes should immediately follow 
the bleeding, but guarded by opium. Tliis should be 
quickly followed by back-raking, and injections consisting 
of warm water, or very thm gruel, hi ^vhich Epsom salts 



BoTS. 159 

or aloes have been dissolved ; and too much fluid can 
scarcely be thrown up. If the common ox-bladder and 
pipe is used, it should be frequently replenished. The 
horse should likewise be encouraged to drink plentifully 
of warm water or thin gruel ; and draughts, each con 
taining a couple of drachms of dissolved aloes, with a 
little opium, should be given every six hours, until the 
bowels are freely opened. 

Dr. Dodd recommends a method of treatment quite 
different from the above. He is very much opposed to 
blood-letting in all cases. That bleeding is efficacious in this 
and other diseases, is certain, but we are not certain that 
the same results cannot be attained by other and mild- 
er remedies. There has been a reform, of late years, 
in the human practice with good results, and why can- 
not the same ends be accomplished in the veterinary prac- 
tice ? We would recommend a careful perusal of Dr. 
Dodd, in " Modern Horse Doctor," on this disease. 

BOTS. 

This disease is frequently confounded with cholic, or 
other diseases. Generally speaking, bots are not so trouble- 
some to horses as people seem to suppose ; for it is very 
rare, in making a post mortem examination, that we do not 
find more or less in the stomach. This history is curious 
and is as follows : 

A species of gad-fly is in the latter part of the summer 
exceedingly busy about the horse. It is observed to be 
darting with great rapidity towards the knees and sides 
of the animal. The females are depositing their eggs on 
the hair, and which adhere to it by means of a glutinous 
fluid with which they are surrounded. In a few days the 
eggs are ready to be hatched, and the slightest applica- 
tion of warmth and moisture will liberate the little ani- 
mals which they contain. The horse in licking himself 
touches the egg; it bursts, and a small worm escapes, 



160 The Horse Farrier. 

which adheres to the tongue, and is conveyed with the 
food into the stomach. There it clings to the cuticular 
portion of the stomach, by means of a hook on either 
side of its mouth ; and its hold is so firm and so obsti- 
nate, that it most be broken before it can be detached. 
It remains there feeding on the mucus of the stomach 
during the whole of the winter, and until the end of the 
ensuing spring ; when, having attained a considerable 
size, and being destined to undergo a certain transforma- 
tion, it disengages itself from the cuticular coat, is car- 
ried into the villous portion of the stomach with the food, 
passes out of it with the chyme, and is evacuated with 
the dung. 

Treatment. — In most cases, if the horse be allowed 
to run for a short time at grass, when the bots has at- 
tained their full growth, and exercise an independent life, 
they will pass off with the excrement. The compound 
for the expulsion of the bots will be found useful, when 
they are found at neck of the throat : 

No. 2. Drench freely with sweet milk and molasses, 
(sugar or honey will do,) well shaken together. Contin- 
ue it, a bottle full every fifteen or twenty minutes, accord- 
ing to the severity of the attack, until the animal becomes 
easy ; then give a quart bottle full of strong salt and wa- 
ter, followed soon after with a quart bottle of Castor Oil. 
It is worse than idle to give anything with the view of 
killing the bots in a horse. The only plan is to coax them 
off. 

No. 3. Make a tea of sage, sweeten it well, when about 
milk warm drench your horse with it. If it turns out to 
be colic and not bots, the sage will be good for that. 

No. 4. As soon as it is discovered that a horse has 
symptoms of bots, give a half pint of warm, sweet milk, 
just drawn from a cow, and a half pint of molasses. In 
15 minutes after, give a strong tea made of elder bark, 
and sage, to which add a half an ounce of alum. This is 
given as a drench. In half an hour after, give the horse 
a portion of physic. 

No. 5. A half pint vinegar, half pint soft soap, half 



Colic. 161 

pint molasses ; shake well together, and pour it down 
while foaming. 

We have but little faith in medicine expelling bots ; we 
can get the medicine into the horse's stomach, but we 
cannot get it down the throat of the worm when the food 
does not suit him. 

The nit or egg can easily be got rid of by greasing the 
horse's hair, and then rubbing it with a coarse cloth, or 
by applying warm water, which loosens their hold on the 
hair. 

COLIC. 

In nine cases out of ten, coUc is the result of impaired di 
gestive organs. The drmking of cold water when the 
horse is heated, is a very sure origin of violent spasm 
in the horse. Hard water is very apt to produce this 
effect. Colic will sometimes follow the exposure of a 
horse to the cold air or a cold wind, after strong exercise. 
Green feed, although, generally speaking, most beneficial 
to the horse, yet, given in too large a quantity, or when 
he is hot, will frequently produce gripes. Doses of aloes, 
both large and small, are not unfrequent causes of colic. 

Symptoms. — It is of much importance to distinguish 
between spasmodic colic and inflammation of the bowels, 
for the symptoms have considerable resemblance, although 
the mode of treatment should be very different. 

The attack of colic is usually very sudden. The horse 
begins to shift his posture, look around at his flanks, paw 
violently, strike his belly with his feet, and crouch in a 
peculiar manner, advancing his hind limbs under him ; he 
will then suddenly lie, or rather fall down, and balance 
himself upon his back, with his feet resting on his belly. 
The pain now seems to cease for a little while, and he gets 
up, and shakes himself, and begins to feed ; the respite, 
however, is but short — the spasm returns more violently 
— every indication of pain is increased — he heaves at the 
flanks, breaks out into a profuse perspiration, and throws 



162 TiiK IToKSE Fakriee. 

himself more recklessly about. In the space of an hour 
or two, either the spasms begin to relax, and the remis- 
sions are of longer duration, or the torture is augmented 
at every paroxysm ; the intervals of ease are fewer and 
less marked, and inflammation and death supervene. The 
pulse is but little affected at the commencement, but it 
soon becomes frequent and contracted, and at length is 
scarcely tangible. 

Tkeatment. — ^Take powdered grains of paradise, 1 tea' 
spoonful; powdered caraway, 1-2 tea-spoonful; oil of 
peppermint, 20 drops ; powdered slippery elm, 1 table- 
spoonful ; hot water, 1 j^int ; mixed together and given 
from a bottle. An injection of common soap suds thrown 
into the rectum. Peppermint tea alone will sometimes af- 
ford relief and a perfect cure. Saleratus is a favorite 
remedy with many, but it should not be mixed with milk 
or molasses, as is often done. 

If the animal labors under pyloric obstruction, the fol- 
lowing is the preparation : — Carbonate ammonia, 1 
drachm ; tincture of ginger, 1 ounce ; water, 1 pint. 
M^x, and drench the horse. 

If the acid or gas exist in the bowels, substitute lime 
water, and add half an ounce of tincture of gentian. 

SCOUKS AND CONSTIPATION IN YOUNG COLTS. 

The principal cause of this disease is the want of prop- 
er management of the mother. It is a law of nature that 
whatever effects the bowels of the mother, will also ef- 
fect the colt through the milk it derives, though more 
seriously. For the colt must now, and, until it be able 
to masticate food, depend altogether on the parent's milk, 
and the latter cannot furnish it in sufficient quantities, un- 
less kept on generous food. 

Treatment. — Our first duty is to attend to the wants 
of the mother — establish her health if it be impaired. 

Stock raisers might learn a lesson from nurses who at- 
tend human parturients ; they give the old-fashioned dose 



ScouES AND Constipation in Colts. 163 

of castor oil understandingly, knowing from long experi- 
ence that it operates both on the mother and child. 

The milk of the mother, immediately after parturition, 
is the best kind of medicine to regulate the secretions and 
excretions of the offspring, and it generally has the de- 
sired effect. There may, however, be cases where, in 
consequence of exposure, the foal may have diarrhoea ; if 
so, he must be placed in a warm situation. Perhaps all 
that will now be needed for the cure is some warm gin- 
ger, or caraway tea ; and a little of either of these simple 
articles, pulverized, may, with advantage, be given to the 
mother in her food. If the mother is fat, and has not had 
sufficient exercise previous to parturition, vv^e are not to 
be in a hurry to stop the discharge, but merely to hold it 
in check. If, in poor condition, and still losing flesh, 
then, in addition, give of tonic, and give freely of gruel 
made of wheat flour, and as long, the foal should not de- 
pend altogether on its dam for sustenance, but might have 
a daily allowance of boiled cow's milk, cooled to about the 
temperature of milk when drawn. Ilay tea, to which a 
small quantity of cow's milk may be added, is an excel- 
lent drmk for the young foal in the absence of its mother's 
milk. Try it, reader, on your calves, also, if you have 
occasion. 

The following astringent drink for colts is efficacious, 
viz : Angelica root, one ounce ; Cranesbill, 2 ounces ; 
hayberry bark, 1-4 ounce ; African ginger, 1-2 ounce. 
Pour on the above ingredients two quarts of boiling wa- 
ter ; set them aside for a few hours. Dose — Half a pint 
every four hours until the disease is checked. If the dis- 
charges are fetid, add to each dose half a table-spoonful 
of finely-pulverized charcoal, and if the foal be weak and 
in poor condition, allow it hay tea, thickened with oat- 
meal. 

As regards costiveness, green food and scalded shorts 
are the antidotes^ and the mother will partake of either 
with relish ; some of the former, if the season permits, 
should be cut and placed before her soon after labor. If 
the articles fail to have the desired effect, a dose of ap- 
erient medicine — castor oil, or salts— should be given. 



164 The Hoese Farrier. 

diarrhcea. 

This is quite a common disease among horses. There 
is a kind, however, among grass eaters, that is beneficial 
rather than otherwise, if it does not continue for any 
length of time. Diarrhoea is the eifect of an irritable or 
congested state of the mucous membrane of the intes- 
tines, often produced by improper articles, or over doses 
of physic, by over exertion and perspiration, suddenly 
checked by exposure to cold winds, &c. 

Symptoms. — The symptoms are, he frequently looks 
round at his flanks ; his breathing is laborious, and the 
pulse is quick and small — the mouth is hot and the legs 
and ears are warm. 

Treatment. — If it proceeds from the feed, change of 
diet will generally be sufficient. Unless the purging is 
excessive, and the pain and distress great, the surgeon 
should hesitate at giving any astringent medicine at first ; 
but administer gruel or thin starch, or arrow-root, by the 
mouth and by clyster, removing all hay and corn, and par- 
ticularly green feed. If, however, twelve hours have 
passed, and the purging and the pain are undiminished, 
continue the gruel, adding to it chalk, catechu, and opium, 
repeated every six hours. As soon as the purging begins 
to subside, the stringent medicme should be lessened in 
quantity, and gradually discontinued. The horse should 
be warmly clothed, and placed in a comfortable stable, 
and his legs should be hand-rubbed and bandaged. Bay- 
berry bark and charcoal are powerful astringents. 

If the disease depends on deranged digestive function, 
the liver included, give a few doses of the following : 
Powdered goldenseal, 2 ounces ; powdered ginger, 1 
Dunce ; salt, 1 ounce. Dose, half an ounce twice a day. 

INDIGESTION. 

The causes of indigestion are numerous : too little or 
too much of food, water, or work ; bad ventilation ; ex- 
posure ; poisons ; damaged or highly nutritious food ; 
working the animal on a full stomach — are all operative 
in producing indigestion in acute or chronic forms. 



Inflammation of the Eye. 165 

Sy^iptoms. — The excrement is very variable in color 
and consistence, often hard and covered with slime ; at 
other times soft, when the presence of intestinal parasites 
can be detected. The urine is scanty, and either colored 
or thickened with foreign material. The animal is gen- 
erally cross and irritable, and leaves the stable, at work- 
ing time, very unwillingly ; he requires considerable urg- 
ing while travelling, and, of course, is incapacitated to 
perform his usual work. 

Treatment. — First, if possible, remove the cause. 
If the animal has been fed on dry food, let him have a 
mixture of boiled oats, shorts, and carrots, well seasoned 
with salt, to which add daily half a table-spoonful of 
white mustard seed ; one pint of pale brandy to four 
ounces of fine salt ; dose, a wine glass, in oatmeal gruel, 
night and morning, just before meals. The animal must 
not be permitted to spend half his time eating. Atten- 
tion must also be paid to the water which the animal 
drinks : throw a handful of pulverized charcoal, daily, 
into the water trough. This will improve the very worst 
kind. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. 

This disease is so familiar to every one, that a descrip- 
tion of it seems unnecessary. Its seat is in the membrane 
which lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white of 
the eye ; when treated in the early stage, it generally yields 
to very simple treatment. From this primary form of 
disease others of a more alarming nature supervene. 

As prevention is much cheaper than cure, it is of great 
importance to practice that system of management, with 
respect to feeding, exercise, cleanliness and ventilation, 
Avhich is most likely to prevent it. It may be considered 
under two forms — the common and manageable, and the 
specific and fatal. The common inflammation is gener- 
ally sudden in its attack. 

Symptoms. — The lids will be found swelled and the 
eyes partially closed, and some weeping. The inside of 
the lid will be red, some red streaks visible on the white 



166 Tfik HoKsic Fakf;ii<:i:. 

of the eye, nnd tlic coniwi slii^litly dim. Tliis is occasion- 
Jilly coTiiKH'ted with Home dej^ree of cat;irrh or cold; but 
it iH as olU'M uniu'comp.'iiiied by this, and (h^pends on ex- 
ternal irritation, as a blow, or the presence of a bit of 
hay-seed or oat-husk within the lid, towards the outer 
corner where the iiay camiot reach it; therefore the lids 
should always be carefully examined as to this possible 
source of tlie complaint. 

'ruicATMKNT. — C-ooIiuu^ apj)lications to the eye, as tlie 
cy(^ lotion or tiiu'turc; of opiun», with ujcntle physic, will 
usually abate the evil ; or the inlhunmation will subside 
without medical treatment. A cool shed, rather darken- 
ed, will be l\\v. most desii'able ])lace ; a very li<j;lit diet of 
scalded shorts, or jjjruel, will be all the patient needs, for 
inilannnation. 

LOCKED JAWICI) OR TKTANU8. 

Locked jaw or tetanus is one of the most dreadful 
niul liital (iiseases to which the liorse is subject. It i.s 
called locked jaw, because tlu^ muscles of the jaw are 
earliest allected, and the mouth is obstinately and im- 
movably closed. It is a constant sj)asm of all tlu^ volun- 
tary nmscK's, an<l particularly of the neck, the spine, and 
the* head. It is <^enerally slow and treacherous in its at- 
tack. The iiorse, for a <lay or two, does not appear to 
be i\[i\\v well ; he does not feed as usual ; he ])artly chews 
liis food, ami drops it.; and he <jfulps his water. The 
owner at lenL!:th fmds that the motion of the jaws is con- 
8i<lerably limited, and some saliva is driveling from the 
mouth. If he tries, he can only open the mouth a very 
little way, or the jaws are perlectly and riujidly closed. 

Tetanus most usually occurs from injuries to some 
nervous libre of the foot — sometimes from a prick in shoe- 
ing. It is also connected with (locking, nickhig and cas 
tration, over exertion, and sudden exposure. 

Symttoms. — A j)rotrusi()n of the muzzle, and stiftnesa 
of the neck ; the nuiscles singularly prominent, distinct, 
hard, knotty, and unyielding. There is ililliculty in bring- 
ing the heail round, and still greater dilliculty iu bending 
it. The eye is drawn deep within the socket. 



Lmckki) Jaw. 167 

The ears are erect, pointed forward, nnrl immovable ; 
if tlie horse is s])okeii to, or threritcMiod to ho. struck, tliey 
change not tlieir i)osition. The nostril is expanded to tlie 
utmost. The respiration is usually accelerated, yet not 
always so ; but it is uniformly laborious. The pulse gives 
little indication of the severity of the disease. It is some- 
times scarcely aU'ected. After a while, however, the heart 
begins to sympathize with the general excitation of the 
system, and the pulse nicreases in frecpiency and force un- 
til the animal becomes debilitated, when it beats yet quick- 
er and quicker, but diminishes in power, and gradually 
flutters and dies away. 

The countenance is eager, anxious, haggard, and tells 
plainly enough what the animal suffers. 

The stiffness gradually extends to the back. If the 
horse is in a narrow stall, it is impossible to turn him; 
and, even with room and scope enough, he turns alto- 
gether like a deal-boanl. 

The extremities begin to ])articii)ate in the spasm — hind- 
er ones generally iirst. The horse stands with his hhid- 
legs straddling apart in a singular way. The fore-limbs 
have a singular aj)i)earance; they are as stiff as they can 
possibly be, but stretched forward and straddlhig. 

There is a degree of "hide-bound" ai)pearunce, and of 
tucking up of the belly, which is seen under no other 
compbiint. The tail becomes in constant motion. 

Constipation, and to an almost insurmountable degree, 
now ap])ears. The abdominal muscles are so powerfully 
contracted, that no portion of the contents of the abdo- 
men can i)ass on and be discharged. 

By degrees the si)asni extends and becomes everywhere 
more violent. The motion of the whole frame is lost, and 
the horse stands fixed in the vumatural posture which he 
has assumed. The countenances becomes wilder and more 
haggard — its expression can never be affaced from the 
memory of him who cares about the feelings of a brute. 

Treatment. — The object is to abate the spasm. For this 
purpose, opium will be the most elHcient remedy. It will 
be borne in doses of from half a drachm to two drachms 



168 The Horse Farrier. 

every four or five hours. A dose of physic, consisting 
of eight or ten drachms of aloes, should be given at once, 
and its operation assisted by large injections of Epsom 
or Glauber salts in solution. The horse should be well 
rubbed and blanketed, and a strong liniment rubbed along 
the spine. 

If the disease terminates fatally, it is usually from the 
sixth to the eighth day. There are occasionally slight 
remissions in the spasm, but not sufficiently to enable the 
animal to eat or to drink. If these remissions return and 
increase in length, and particularly if there is more relax- 
ation of the lower jaw, there is yet hope. If the horse 
recovers, it will be slowly, and he will be left sadly weak, 
and a mere walking skeleton. 

FEVER. 

Fever is general increased arterial action, either with- 
out any local affection, or in consequence of the sympa- 
thy of the system with inflammation in some particular 
part. 

The first is joi^re/ever. Owing to bad stable manage- 
ment and general treatment, and the susceptibility of va- 
rious parts of the horse to take on inflammation, this 
usually degenerates into inflammation. But pure fever 
is sometimes seen, and runs its course regularly. 

It frequently begins with a cold and shivering fit, 
although this is not essential to fever. The horse is dull, 
unwilling to move, has a staring coat, and cold legs and 
feet. This is succeeded by warmth of the body ; une- 
qual distribution of warmth to the legs ; one hot, and the 
other three cold, or one or more unnaturally warm, and 
the others unusually cold, but not the deathlike coldness 
of inflammation of the lungs ; the pulse quick, soft, and 
often indistinct ; the breathing somewhat laborious ; but 
no cough or pawing, or looking at the flanks. The ani- 
mal will scarcely eat, and is very costive. While the 
state of pure fever lasts, the shivering tit returns at 
nearly the same hour every day, and is succeeded by the 
warm one, and that often by a slight degree of perspira- 
tion ; and these alternate during several days until local 



Putrid Feveb. 100 

inflammation appears, or the fever gradually subsides. 
No horse ever died of pure fever. If he is not destroyed 
by inflammation of the lungs, or feet, or bowels, succeed- 
ing to the fever, he gradually recovers. 

Fever is general increased action of the heart and ar- 
teries, and therefore evidently appears the necessity for 
bleeding, regulating the quantity of blood by the degree 
of fever, and usually keeping the finger on the artery 
until some evident and considerable impression is made 
upon the system. The bowels should be gently opened ; 
but the dangerous inflammation of the lungs, and the 
uniformly injurious consequence of purgation in that dis- 
ease, will prevent the administration of an active purga- 
tive. A small quantity of aloes may be given, morning 
and night, with the proper fever medicine, until the 
bowels are slightly relaxed, after which nothing more of 
an aperient quality should be administered. Digitalis, 
emetic tartar, and nitre should be given morning and 
night, in proportions regulated by the circumstances of 
the case. The horse should be warmly clothed, and 
placed in a cool and well-ventilated stable. 

PUTEID FEVER. 

The cause of this disease may be attributed to the at- 
mospheric influence and debility, however induced. 

Symptoms. — Great debility, difficulty in swallowing, 
and thirsty, pulse weak, gets down and is not able to rise, 
lies on his side paws, not able to rise, rattles in the wind- 
pipe. 

Treatment. — In attacks where the prostration of 
strength is not great, give a drachm of camphor, and half 
an ounce of nitre, pulverized and dissolved in half a pint 
of warm water ; and give as a drench every two hours, 
two doses ; then omit one dose, and give one ounce of 
powdered aloes, and half an ounce of capsicum, pulver- 
ized and dissolved in a pint of warm water ; in six hours 
after giving the physic, commence with the camphor and 
nitre as before, and give it every six hours, till it has con- 
siderable of a diuretic efiect, or till the horse shows symp- 



170 The IIoese Farrier. 

toms of returning health, when three doses in twenty- 
four hours will be sufficient. But if the horse should be 
losing strength, the nitre must be left out, and from two 
to four drachms of capsicum added to the camphor in 
its place, and given every four or six hours. Should the 
physic not operate in twenty-four hours, half the above 
quantity must be given ; if still losing strength, in taking 
the capsicum and camphor he must have added to them, 
night and morning, from three to four drachms of finely 
powdered cascarilla. Injections must be used twice a 
day whilst the bowels are costive, composed of half an 
ounce of castile soap, to a quart of water, and four 
ounces of epsom salts dissolved in a quart of warm wa- 
ter, alternately. The throat gargled every two hours, 
with a tea made by pouring half a gallon of boiling water 
on six drachms of capsicum, and when cool, add a pint of 
good vinegar. The throat externally must be well rubbed 
with the following mixture, three or four times a day : 
half a pint spirits of hartshorn, ditto of turpentine, ditto 
of camphor, all mixed and kept well corked. If the 
horse is down and unable to get up, he must be helped. 

HYSTERIA IN MARES. 

This Ts of a nervous and spasmodic character, and is 
supposed to arise from derangement in the organs of 
generation. In the human subject, plethora and suppres- 
sion of the menses are assigned as the chief causes of 
this aifection ; yet these conditions, probably had another 
antecedent, which is quite conunon among various 
species, viz., dyspepsia ; it is most frequently among 
virgin mares, after the age of puberty ; and in such as 
have had a foal, and afterwards deprived of sexual in- 
tercourse. The disease is most apt to make its appear- 
ance about the menstrual period than any other. 

Symptojis. — They seem unwilling to perform their usual 
task, either as tra^'ellers or as draught horses ; they 
seem fretful, and oiten ill tempered, vicious, spiteful, and 
seized with a paroxysm resembling a fit ; and lie or fall 
down, and while the paroxysm lasts are unable to get up 



Slobbering. 171 

again ; she is not herself, (as the saying is,) being ex- 
cessively nervous and irritable, and is excited by the 
least noise; the mare, hov/ever, gradually becomes calm, 
and then is suddenly seized with another paroxysm ; or 
they may follow each other m rapid suceession, in which 
case death often puts an end to the scene, or it results in 
cerebal disease. 

Treatment. — It is useless to give medicine while the 
patient is in a paroxysm ; all that can be done is to give 
the animal, while down, anmjection of warm water and 
salt, to which add an ounce or two of tincture of assafoe- 
tida ; let the external surface be well rubbed with wisps 
of coarse straw ; as soon as the fit is over, give a drench 
of powdered assafoetida, 2 drachms, tincture of valerian 
1 ounce, syrup of garlic, 2 ounces, thin gruel, one pint. 
If the animal is not relieved in the course of six hours, 
repeat the dose, and clear out the bowels with a dose of 
glauber salts, to which add a small quantity of ginger. 

SLOBBERING. 

This complaint is quite common in rural districts, where 
clover is used as a pasture. Lobeha or tobacco will pro- 
duce the same results. This is caused by irritation, the 
article coming in direct contact with highly sensitive se- 
cretary surfaces, which always pour out their fluids on the 
appHcation of an irritant, so long as it remains an irri- 
tant, and provided the parts retain their normal sensi- 
bility, or through the medium of absorbents; thus, calo- 
mel will cause the saUvatory gland to secrete and pour 
forth an amount of fluid almost incredible. A horse will 
secrete more than one and a half gallons of fluid per hour. 
The sharp edges of a worn-down tooth, or a tooth in a 
state of ulceration, may give rise to profuse salivation ; 
then again, a rough bit, and a hard master may be set 
down among the direct causes of this complaint. In- 
difierent fodder of any kind and impaired digestive or- 
gans, are apt to produce augmented salivary secretion. 

Treatment. — The causes should be sought for, and if 
practicable, removed. This may, of itself, produce rehef. 



172 The Horse Fareiee. 

If the trouble can be traced to a carous tooth, let it be 
extracted, or should the edges of a tooth irritate the in- 
side of the cheek, apply the tooth rasp, and make all 
smooth. If any irritation exists about the glands of the 
throat ar ? mouth, apply a stimulating appHcation to 
them, composed of hartshorn and olive oil. If some- 
thing noxious in the food, give the following: 

Powdered bayberry bark, powdered myrrh, powdered 
goldenseal, powdered ginger, powdered sulphur, of each 
1 ounce. Mix ; divide the mass into eight parts, and mix 
one in fine feed, gargles, composed of decoction of witch 
hasel, bayberry bark, tincture gum catechu, and a solu- 
tion of alum, either of which is good, when an astrin- 
gent is indicated. 

No. 2. Mix a table spoonful of sulphur in salt, give 
once or twice a week. 

No. 3. Burdock leaves are said to effect a cure. 
Horses will not eat them only when they are troubled 
with slobbers, and thus eradicate two evils at one time. 

SPAVIN. 

This is a very common and formidable disease of the 
hock, and we have but little to offer by way of cure, and 
the majority of cases may be pronounced incurable ; the 
lameness may be in part or entirely cured, but the spavin 
cannot be radically removed. The principal cause of the 
disease may be found in breeding from old b roken down 
spavin mares and worthless studs, but the exciting or 
immediate cause, is strain, injury, over- work, &c. 

The weight and concussion being thrown princijDally 
on the inner splent-bone, produce inflammation of the 
cartilagenous substance that unites it to the shank-bone. 
In consequence of it, the cartilage is absorbed, and bone 
deposited ; the union between the splent bone and the 
shank becomes bony, instead of cartilagenous ; the de- 
gree of elastic action between them is destroyed, and 
there is formed a splent of the hind leg. The disposition 
to form bony matter having commenced, bone continues 
to be deposited, and it generally aj^pears in the form of 



Spavin. 173 

a tumor, where the head of the splent-bone is united 
with the shank, and in front of that union. This is called 
bone spavin. Inflammation of the ligaments of any of 
the small bones of the hock, proceeding to bony tumor, 
would equally class under the name of spavin ; but com- 
monly, the disease commences on the precise spot that 
has been described. 

Symptoms. — While spavin is forming there is generally 
lameness and sometimes very great but not entirely to unfit 
him for work ; the lameness sometimes abates and entirely 
disappears, by a little exercise, but when the membrane 
of the bone has accommodated itself to the tumor that 
extended it, lameness subsides or disappears, or depends 
upon the degree which the bony deposit interfered with 
the motion of the joint. Sometimes there is no tumor ; 
then if a sort of regular lameness has existed for some 
months, referable to no other joint than the hock, and the 
diflicultyhas of late gradually increased, so that the joint 
appears stiff, the critter is there, after which we may 
expect to observe a tumor on the inside of the hock. 
A tumor once formed in the region already referred to 
needs no loise man to point it out ; it can be both seen 
and felt ; and this, accompanied with hock lameness and 
ligamentary tumefaction, is the symptom of spavin in its 
exostotic stage. 

Treatment. — For bog or blood spavin, which is a dis- 
tended state of the sub-cutaneous veins in the region of the 
hock, the power of the blood is partially arrested, which 
causes the soft tumor on the hock. The remedy in the 
early stage, cold water and refrigerating lotions ; in the 
later stages, strong infusion of bayberry bark; and lastly, 
brandy and salt, perseveringly applied. Congestion may 
be treated in the same manner, aided by friction. 

The horse, as soon as the lameness or dry signs of dis- 
ease are perceptible, should have rest, and cooling appli- 
cations should be applied. Dr. Dadd says : Our usual 
remedy in the early stage is muriatic acid, 4 ounces, water, 
2 quarts, tincture of bloodroot, 6 ounces. Applied daily 
by means of a sponge, as follows : Take a piece of sponge, 



174 The Horse Farrier. 

slightly concave, corresponding as nearly as possible to the 
form and size of the hock ; by means of a few stitches, 
affix two pieces of tape or linen, so as to form an X ; 
each piece must be long enough to encircle the joint two 
or three times ; after dipping the sponge in the mixture, 
it must be applied to the inside of the hock, and there 
secured, and afterwards kept constantly moist. Dr. 
Spooner says ; If any external inHammation is present, 
we cannot do better than commence by abstracting blood 
from the vein above, and use cooling applications to the 
hock ; after which we may resort to the bUster, or seton. 
We have succeeded and failed with both. 

WIXDGALLS. 

The bursal capsules, located just above the fetlock, as 
well as in the vicinity of the hock, secrete a synovial fluid, 
corresponding to what some persons term '-''joint oil,^^ 
the use of which is to facilitate motion. In cases of this 
character, either the walls of the capsule are augmented 
in bulk — or the synovial secretion is inordinate, or else 
its flow is obstructed. Counter irritants, bandage, fric- 
tion, and regular exercise are the best remedies, but these 
sometimes fail. 

EIXGBONE. 

Bingbone is a deposit of bony matter in one of the 
pasterns, and usually near the joint. It rapidly spreads, 
and involves not only the pastern bones, but the cartila- 
ges of the foot, and spreading around the pasterns and 
cartilages, thus derives its name. Ringbone is sometimes 
hereditary ; though it is usually occasioned by a strain 
taken in curvetting, bounding turns, and violent gallop- 
ing or racing. A coarse or half-bred, fleshy, or bony- 
legged horse, with short and upright pasterns is the ordi- 
nary subject of this disease. 

The treatment will be similar to spavin, in reality there 
is no cure, but the lameness may be in a great measure 
removed by cooling applications, cold water bandage, hn- 
iments, and above all, give the horse rest. 

Prof. Spooner says : The best treatment for ringbones 
after the inflammation h-dn been in sreat measure removed 



FOUNDEE. 175 

by cooling applications, is to well rub in the iodine of mer- 
cury ointment, washing ofl" the effects on the following 
day, and thus repeating it again and again. We have by 
such means succeeded in removing the lameness, dimin- 
ishing the enlargement, and restoring the animal, in many 
cases, to a state of usefalness. 

FOUNDER OR ACUTE RHEUMATISM. 

This is a very common disease among horses. Foun- 
der is produced by driving a horse, when in a state of 
perspiration, into a pond, exposing him to cold wind or 
rain, or tying him up in the stable yard while the hos- 
tler washes his legs or thighs, and sometimes his body ; 
but excessive exertion alone will, and often does, produce 
every kind of founder. 

Symptoms. — The earliest symptoms of fever in the feet 
are fidgetyness, frequent shifting of the fore-legs. The 
pulse is quickened, the flanks heaving, the nostrils red, 
and the horse, by his anxious countenance, and possibly 
moaning, indicates great pain. He looks about as if 
preparing to he down ; he continues to shift his weight 
from foot to foot ; he is afraid to draw his feet sufiiciently 
under him for the purpose of lying down ; but at length 
he drops. His quietness when down will distmguish it 
from colic or inflammation of tlie bowels, in both of 
which the horse is up and down, and frequently rolling 
and kicking when down. When the grievance is in the 
feet, the horse experiences so much relief, from getting 
rid of the weight, that he is glad to lie as long as he can. 
He will likewise, as clearly as in inflammation of the lungs 
or bowels, point out the seat of disease, by looking at the 
part. His muzzle will often rest on the feet or the aftec- 
ted foot. 

The feet will be found hot, the patient will express 
pain if they are slightly rapped with a hammer, and the 
artery at the pastern will throb violently. If the dis- 
ease is sutiered to pursue its course, he will be perfectly 
unable to rise ; or, if he is forced to get up, and one foot 
is lifted, he will stand with difliculty on the others, or 
perhaps drop at once, from intensity of pain. 



176 Thb Horbe Farrier. 

Treatment. — Youatt says, bleeding is indispensable. 
If the disease is confined to the fore-feet, four quarts of 
blood should be taken as soon as possible from the toe of 
each ; care being taken to open the artery as well as the 
vein. The feet may likewise be put into warm water, to 
quicken the flow of the blood, and increase the quantity 
abstracted. Poultices of linseed meal, made very soft, 
should cover the whole of the foot and pastern, and be 
frequently renewed. The shoe should be removed, the 
sole pared as thin as possible, and the crust, and particu- 
larly the quarters, Y*ell rasped. This must be done 
gently, and with a great deal of patience. Sedative and 
cooling medicines should be diligently administered, con- 
sisting of digitalis, nitre, and emetic tartar. About 
the third day a blister may be tried, taking in the whole 
of the pastern and the coronet, and Avashed oif the fol- 
lowing day, and repeated several times. The horse 
should be kept on mash diet, unless green meat can bo 
procured ; and that should not be given too liberally. 
Linseed tea, and v\'^ater acidulated with cream of tartar, 
form the best drink for patients. When the season will 
permit, two months' run at grass will be serviceable. 

CHRONIC FOUNDER. 

The principal diflerence between this and the acute 
disease lies in the less activity of the attack and inflam- 
matory fever, and the indetinite duration of the symp- 
toms ; the lameness is not persistent, but goes ofi" after 
exercise, and returns again while the animal is at rest. 

The treatment should be similar to that recommended 
for the acute disease — blood-letting, poultices, fomenta- 
tions, and blisters, and the last much sooner and much 
more frequently than in the former disease. 

CRAMP. 

This is a sudden, involuntary, and painful spasm of a 
particular muscle. It occasionally attacks the muscles of 
organic life, but in its most common form only affects the 
hhid extremities, where it is observed by the temporary 
lameness and stiffness it produces, in the hardly worked 



SrLKNT. 177 

horse, as he is first led out of the stable in the morning. 
If any lameness remains, which can be ascertained by 
pressing the parts, it should be removed by hard rubbing, 
or by giving the horse a wider or more comfortable stall, 
if that should appear to be the origm of the difficulty. 

SPLENT. 

This is a callous or osseous tumor — ^growing upon one, 
or contiguous to one, of the splent bones. 

A splent seldom occasions lameness, except in the pri- 
mary stage. When the membrane has accommodated it- 
self to the tumor, the lameness subsides, and altogether 
disappears, unless the splent be in a situation in which it 
interferes with the action of some tendon or ligament, or 
in the immediate neighborhood of a joint. 

Treatment. — The hair should be closely shaved off 
round the tumor; a little strong mercurial ointment 
rubbed in for two days ; and this followed by an active 
blister. If the splent is of recent formation, it will gen- 
erally yield to this, or to a second blister. 

LAMENESS. 

Lameness of whatever kind should have prompt atten- 
tion. However trivial it may appear, it may end in a chronic 
lameness and perhaps in s})avin or ringbone. If thfe 
cause is not clear to the owner, he had better consult one 
that is skilled, though it may cost a little trouble and 
money. There are various causes and kinds of lameness. 
It frequently arises from shoeing, or by picking up some 
foreign bodies. Removing the cause, will generally be suf- 
ficient to effect a cure, but if the incision is deep, dress 
with fir balsam, or mixed soap and sugar. In stifle joint 
lameness, the symptoms are heat and tenderness, and 
the limb is advanced with difficulty ; rest, fomentations 
wdth infusion of poppy heads, cold water, and sometimes 
physic, will be the most proper means of cure. For chronic 
stifle lameness, originating in adhesions, or infiltrations 
of the surrounding tissues, a few applications of the ace- 
tate of cantharides will probably effect a cure. Lame- 
ness in the hock, from strain, over-work, or blow, is evi- 



178 The Horse Farrier. 

dent from the heat, pain, and tumefaction about the part • 
the animal will flinch when the part is handled, and some- 
times catch the leg vp. The parts should be kept cool by 
sponge, and the horse should have rest. If he is worked, a 
it may prove a spavin. In lameness of the shoulder, the 
symptoms are, the horse moves the leg in a circular form 
instead of advances forward, and the action of one shoul- 
der is quite different from the other ; the animal throws 
the weight of the body as much on the sound side as 
possible. 

Treatment. — If caused by heavy drawing, violent 
tugging, or galloping on roads, rest, fomentations, and a 
light dose of medicine are indicated. Should the animal 
still be lame after the inflammatory symptoms, have sub- 
sided, use the following liniment : Linseed oil, one pint, 
chloric ether, 1 ounce, oil of cedar, half an ounce. 
Mix ; and apply to the shoulder, night and morning. 
If the disease is confined to the joint, blister, or stimu- 
lating liniments may answer. 

ELBOW JOINT LA3IENESS. 

The symptoms are tenderness, pain, swelling, heat, 
and tumefaction around the joint, with inability of free 
motion, &c. A dose of cathartic medicine, if high heat 
prevails in the surface of the lame region, — vinegar and 
water — are indicated. Very little benefit can be derived 
from any treatment, unless the animal be kept at rest, 
and on a light diet. In the greater number of cases of 
fracture, it will be necessary to place the horse under 
considerable restraint, or even to suspend or sling him. 
A broad piece of sail-cloth, furnished wuth two breech- 
ings, and two breast-girths, is placed under the animal's 
belly, and, by means of ropes and pulleys attached to a 
cross beam above, he is elevated or lowered as circum- 
stances may require. It will seldom be necessary to lift 
the patient quite oft' the ground, and the horse will be 
quietest, and most at his ease, when his feet are suffered 
just to touch it. The head is confined by two collar ropes, 
and the head-stall well padded. Many horses may plunge 
about and be difficult to manage at first, but generally 



Lameness. 




^^'^vV.^l. 



speaking, it is not long ere they become perfectly pas- 
sive. 

The use of the different buckles and straps which are 
attached to the sail-cloth will be evident on inspection. 
If the horse exhibits more than usual uneasiness, other 
ropes may be attached to the corners of the sail-cloth. 
This will afford considerable relief to the patient, as weV 
as add to the security of the bandages. 

TOE CEACK. 

The practice is first, to poultice the foot, (supposing 
the shoe to have been removed,) with a view of softening 
the hoof and removing any extraneous matter that may 
have insinuated itself mto the crack. When the hoof is 
sufficiently softened, it should be cleansed, examined, 
and dressed with tincture of myrrh. Select a spot 
about an inch below the coronet, and with a small gimlet 
bore a hole through the two edges of the crack, and an- 



180 The Hokse Fakrier. 

other one inch above the toe. A straight needle, armed 
with a strong ligature, is to be passed through the upper 
holes, brought over and through a second time ; thus clo- 
sing the two edges of the fissure by what the sailors term a 
" round turn." The same thing is to be repeated at the 
toe. The assistant, by the aid of pincers or otherwise, 
shuts the crack as close as possible ; the ligatures are each 
drawn tight, and tied with a surgeon's knot. A small 
quantity of blister ointment is to be smeared over the 
crack, and bar shoe applied. A quarter crack may be 
treated in a similar manner, omitting, however, the 
sutures. 

After the edges have firmly united, cut the ligatures, 
and pare the uneven edges of the cicatrix level with the 
surrounding parts, and the cure is completed. 

SWELLED LEGS. 

If it occurs in young horses, and from those that are 
over-fed and little exercised, sometimes diuretics or 
purgatives, with proper management, will afford relief, 
if there is a great degree of stiffness and pain, somtiraes 
abscesses appear. Physic or diuretics, or both, must be had 
recourse to, if not connected with diseases and gen- 
eral debility. Mingle cordial with diuretics. Hay ban- 
dages dipped in water have a good effect for the agricut 
tural horse. 

SCRATCHES. 

Swelled legs, although distinct from grease, is a disease 
that is apt to degenerate hito it. Scratches is a specific 
inflammation of the skin and heels, sometimes of the fore- 
feet, but oftener of the hinder ones. The principal cause 
of the disease is, neglected grooming and care, want of 
exercise, high feeding, washing the feet and leaving them 
to dry. The prevention will be proper ventilation, good 
stabling, grooming, and proper care. It is more likely to 
affect horses with white feet than others. Some consider 
the disease contagious. 

Symptoms. — ^The first is heat and tenderness. On ap- 
plying the hand to the heel and fetlock, the parts will be 
found hot, and under pressure, the animal will evince 



SCRACHE&. 181 

signs of pain. As the disease progresses, the parts be- 
come swollen, — infiltrated with serum, — thus increasing 
the inflammatory symptoms, and causing the animal much 
pam, w^hich he usually evinces by occasionally catching 
up the foot; the hairs stand out horizontally. When 
the disease attacks both hind legs, the pain is sometimes 
intense, especially if the horse be plethoric, or his system 
is charged with morbid humors. In the latter case, the 
greasy discharge is very profuse ; for the pent-up w^aste 
matters have now found an outlet, which admit of a free 
discharge of the fluids of the body. 

Treatment. — Attention must first be paid to diet, ven- 
tilation and cleanliness. The heels should be gently 
washed with castile soap and water, and ointment ap- 
pUed in more advanced cases. Poultice with linseed meal 
or carrots, boiled and mashed, may be applied, adding a 
little astringent lotions to renew the irritation, and check 
the discharge — give the cleansing powder. The follow- 
ing will also be found beneficial which has been highly 
recommended, by Prof. Norton, and others : Pyrolig- 
neous acid. Unseed oil, turpentine, of each equal parts. 
Mix ; first wash with water and castile soap ; alter wiping 
them dry, apply the mixture. Repeat night and morn- 
ing. In order to keep doY>m "proud flesh," the parts 
may be sprmkied daily with burnt alum. Put on a good 
coating; cover the sore with dry hnt, and apply a ban- 
dage over all. Bandages should always be dispensed with, 
if possible. 

POULTRY LOUSINESS. 

Horses frequently become infected with lice from poul- 
try, having the roosting place adjoinmg the stalls. When 
this is discovered, the preventive will be to remove the 
roosting place, and scald and whitewash the stable. 

Symptom. — The horse is seized with violent itching, 
shows a disposition to rub and bite himself, strike his 
belly, is not easy for a moment, at night his torment in- 
creases, after this his skin loosens, his haii* and main some- 
times break out with eruptions. 

Treatment. — In order to destroy the vermin, and at 



183 The Horse Fakrieb. 

the same time to cure the cutaneous eruptions, and res- 
tore the hair, take linseed oil, one ounce, pyroligneous 
acid, 3 ounces, spirits of turpentine, 1 ounce. Two or 
three appUcations of this compound will generally suffice. 
The parts to which the application has been made must 
be washed with soap and water. The vermin can also be 
destroyed by sponging the body with an infusion of 
lobeha. 

HIDE BOUND. 

This term is applied to horses whose coat are staring^ 
and skin tight on the ribs and otherwise out of condition. 
It is not so much of a disease as a symptom of a disease, 
particularly of the digestive organs. Every disease that 
can effect the general system may produce this. Glan- 
ders, scratches, chronic cough, farcy founder, are accom- 
panied by hide bound. Diet too sparing, or want of change 
in diet, is an unfailing source of it ; if the cause is removed, 
the effect will follow. 

Treatment. — If no disease appears about the horse, 
change the diet, clothe the body warmly, give a few 
mashes, and a mild physic, or give alteratives, and there 
is none better than that which is in common use, pulver- 
ized antimony, nitre and sulphur. Should the horse not 
feed well, and there is no fever, a slight tonic may be 
given of gmger. Friction may be used to advantage. 

GLANDERS. 

This is the most formidable of all the diseases to which 
the horse is subject. This disease is spontanous with 
the horse only. In other animals, it is the result of con- 
tagion. In the horse, it is the result of injuries of some 
kind, acting upon and weakening the vital energies of 
the lining membrane of the nose. It is often the conse- 
quence of catarrh, mliuenza, distemper, and long-continu- 
ed discharge from the nose. 

They have been produced by the mjection of stunula- 
ting and acrid substance up the nostril. No disease will 
run on to glanders which has not, to a considerable and 
palpable degree, impaired and broken down the constitu 



Glanders. 183 

tion ; and every di,sease that does this will run on to glan- 
ders. 

Glanders are highly contagious. If the discharge from 
the nostrils of a glandered horse is rubbed on a wound, 
or on a mucus surface, like the nostrils, it will produce a 
similar disease. 

If some persons underrate the danger, it is because the 
disease may remain unrecognized in the infected horse for 
some months, or even years, and therefore, when it ap- 
pears, it is attributed to other causes. No glandered 
horse should be employed on any farm, nor should a glan- 
dered horse be permitted to work on any road, or even 
to pasture on any field. He should be destroyed. 

It is capable of being communicated to the human be- 
ing, and, indeed, there have been very many deaths from 
this cause, and most horrible deaths they are. It is gen- 
erally by means of some cut or abrasion, which comes in 
contact with the glandered matter, that the infection is 
communicated. The utmost caution should, therefore, be 
exercised by the attendants. 

The stall and fences may receive the glanderous mat- 
ter ; and hardening on them, it may months afterwards 
communicate the disease to horses, sheep and cattle. 

The earhest symptom of glanders is an increased dis- 
charge from the nostril, small in quantity, constantly flow- 
ing, of a watery character, and a little mucus mingling 
with it. 

It is a common and very mischievous error to suppose 
that this discharge is sticky, when it first makes its ap- 
pearance. It is mucus, but small and constant discharge, 
and is thus distinguished from catarrh, or nasal gleet, or 
any other discharge from the nostril. 

The peculiar stickiness and gluiness supposed to dis- 
tinguish the discharge of glanders from all other mucus 
and prevalent secretions belongs to the second stage of 
the disease, and, for many months before this, glanders 
may have existed in an insidious and highly contagious 
form. It must be acknowledged, however, that, in the 
majority of cases, some degree of stickiness does charac- 



184: The Horse Farriek. 

terize the discharge of glanders from a very early pe- 
riod. 

It is a singular circumstance, that when one nostril 
alone is attacked, it is, in a great majority of cases, the left. 

This discharge may continue in so slight a degree as to 
be scarcely perceptible, for many months, or even two or 
three j^ears, unattended by any other disease, even ul- 
ceration of the nostril, and yet the horse being decided- 
ly glandered from the beginning, and capable of propa- 
gating the malady. In process of time, however, it ming- 
les with the discharge, and then another and a charac- 
teristic symptom appears. Some of this is absorbed, and 
the neighboring glands become affected. If there is 
discharge from both nostrils, the glands within the under 
jaw will be on both sides enlarged. If the discharge is 
from one nostril only, the swelled gland will be found on 
that side alone. Glanders, however, will frequently ex- 
ist at an early stage, without these swelled glands, and 
some other diseases, as catarrh, will produce them. Then 
we must look out for some peculiarity about these 
glands, and we shall readily find it. The swelling may 
be at first somewhat large and diffused, but the surround- 
ing enlargement soon goes off, and one or two small, dis- 
tinct glands remain ; and they are not in the centre of 
the channel, but adhere closely to the jaw on the affected 
side. 

The membrane of the nose should now be examined, 
and will materially guide our opinion. It will either be 
of a dark purplish hue, or almost of a leaden color, or of 
any shade between the two ; or if there is some redness 
of inflammation, it will have a purple tinge. Spots of ul- 
ceration will probably appear on the membrane cover- 
the cartilage of the nose — small ulcers, usually aping 
proaching to a circular form, deep, and mth the edges 
abrupt and prominent. When these appearances are ob- 
served, there can be no doubt about the matter. 

When ulcers begin to appear on the membrane of the 
nose, the constitution of the horse is soon evidently af- 
fected. The patient loses flesh — his belly is tucked up, 
his coat unthrifty, and readily coming off — the appetite 



Farcy. 185 

is impaired — the strength fails — cough, more or less ur- 
gent, may be heard — the discharge from the nose will in- 
crease in quantity ; it will be discolored, bloody, offensive 
to the smell — the ulcers in the nose will become larger 
and more numerous, and the air-passages being obstruct- 
ed, a grating, clioking noise will be heard at every act of 
breathmg. There is now a |;Gcu]iar tenderness about the 
forehead. Farcy is now superadded to glanders, or glan- 
ders has degenerated into farcy, and more of the absorb- 
ents are involved. 

At or before this time little tumors appear about the 
muscles, and face, and neck, following the course of the 
veins and the absorbents, for they run side by side ; and 
these the tumors soon ulcerate. Tumors or buds, still 
pursuing the path of the absorbents, soon appear on the 
inside of the thighs. They are connected together by a 
corded substance, and ulceration quickly follows the ap- 
pearance of these buds. The deeper seated absorbents 
are next affected ; and one or both of the hind-legs swell 
to a great size, and become stiff, and hot, and tender. 
The loss of flesh and strength is more marked every day. 
The membrane of the nose becomes of a dirty livid col- 
or. The membrane of the mouth is strangely pallid. 
The eye is infiltrated wdth a yellow fluid ; and the dis- 
charge from the nose becomes more profuse, and insuffera- 
bly offensive. The animal presents one mass of putre- 
faction, and at last dies, exhausted. 

Treatment. — The treatment of this diserse and farcy 
in well settled cases is not worth while to attempt any 
remedies. The chances of cure are too remote, and the 
danger of infection too great. The horse should be dis- 
patched at once. 

If, however, remedial measures are resorted to, a pure 
atmosphere should be tried ; and if practicable, keep on 
green food. If this cannot be had, substitute it by boiled 
carrots, beets, and turnips, thickened with shorts or fine 
feed. Give all the salt the horse will eat. See receipts. 

FARCY. 

Authorities define farcy to be a disease of the lym- 



186 The Horse Farrier. 

phatic vessels, making its appearance in the form of 
circular swellings, termed farcy buds^ which terminate in 
a discharge and ulceration. 

The causes of farcy exist in any thing that deranges 
the lymphatic system; and probably the same causes 
that operate, either by contagion or otherwise, to pro- 
duce glanders, will produce farcy. "By inoculation, 
farcy has been produced by the matter of glanders, and 
glanders by the matter of farcy; and, consequently, 
there is every reason to infer a similarity, or rather an 
identity, in the virtues of the two diseases ; one disease, 
or form of disease, almost invariably terminates in the 
other, prior to dissolution. There can be no question 
but that the same contaminated atmosphere of the stable 
or elsewhere, which prouces glanddrs, may occasion far- 
cy, and vice versa.'''' 

Bymptoms. — The horse is not in his usual spirits, ap- 
pears dull and does not partake of food with his accus- 
tomed relish. Some horse's pulse will be quicker than 
natural, mouth hot, urine high-colored, &c. ; others are 
suddenly attacked with a swollen leg. So sudden, sharp, 
and severe are attacks of farcy in some instances, that in 
the course of one night, the horse's limb Avill be swollen 
to a frightful size, so as to incapacitate him almost from 
turning in his stall and walking out of the stable. 

" Viewing the aifected limb from behind, we perceive 
a fulness on the inside of the thigh, along the course of 
the femoral vein ; and the application of our finger to 
this will immediately detect a corded, nodous swelling, 
which has been hapj^ily enough, in the sensation it con- 
veys to our feel, compared to a '•cord with so many knots 
tied in it. ' This is at once evidence of the presence of 
farcy. 

"Tracing the cord upward from its place of origin, 
which commonly is above the hock, the hand is carried 
into the groin, and there discovers a lobulated tumor, a 
swelling of the ingumal glands, called a bubo ; some- 
times, however, the bubo does not make its appearance 
until after the full developement of the cord." 



FoLL Evil. 187 

The first stage of farcy is tumification of the lym- 
phatics — " development of the farcy bud." 

The second stage is commonly a suppurative one, ter- 
minating m a farcy ulcer. After passing through these 
two stages, the disease may, and frequently does, termi- 
nate in glanders. When it attacks horses in good condi- 
tion, some hopes may be entertained of a cure. " ^"o 
swelHng of a hind limb (or any other part) constitutes 
a case of farcy apart from the unequivocal signs of lym- 
phatic disease ; there must be present corded, nodulated 
swellings, — huds in some form or other, — together with 
actual or approaching tumefacation of the lymphatic 
glands, or the case is not farcy." 

POLL EVIL AND FISTULA ^VITHERS. 

Poll evil generally makes its appearance about the nape 
of the neck in the form of a swelling, and if not arrested, 
ends in abscess and fistula. It generally proceeds from 
blows and bruises, striking the poll against the ceiling or 
beams, jerking the head upwards, and coming in contact 
with the head-stalls. Excessive friction, the bungling and 
cruel manner of putting on small collars, &c., are the 
principal causes of this comjjlaint. It results either from 
neglect or abuse. 

Poll evil is first noticed in the form of an oval tumor, 
hot and tender, situated directly in the region of the 
nape, mostly inclining to one side ; in the suppurative stage, 
and when the matter is deep-seated, scarcely any fluctua- 
tion can be felt ; when, however, the matter lies directly 
beneath the skin, or in the cellular tissues, the reverse is 
the case. The suppurative finally runs into the ulcerative 
stage ; we then observe chasms and sinuses, similar to 
those observed in fistula of the withers, and finally the 
bones become involved in the disease. 

Fistula of the withers does not differ from poll evil- 
except m location, but is more frequent. It arises in con. 
sequence of the withers being more exposed to injury- 
Fistula is the more formidable ; for the sinuses often bur- 
row deep between the shoulder blade and spinous pro- 
cesses, in various directions, so that it becomes both dif- 
ficult and dangerous to search for them. For the treat- 
ment 6f fistula and poll evil, see receipts. 



188 



Medicines: 



A LIST OF THE MEDICINES AND KECIPES USED IN THE TREAT- 
MENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Vinegar is a very useful ap- 
plication for sprains and bruises. 
Equal parts of boiling water and 
cold vinegar will form a good 
fomentation. 

Spirit of Salt. — This acid is 
formed by distilling corrosive 
sublimate with antimony-. It is 
decidedly the best liquid caustic 
we have. J'or corns, canker, in- 
disposition in the sole to secrete 
good horn, wounds in the foot 
not attended by healthy action. 

Nitric Acid. — This is a valua- 
ble external application. It is 
both a caustic and an anti-septic. 
Itdestro^^s fungous excrescences. 

Sulphuric Acid, or Oil of Vit- 
riol. — When mixed with tar, an 
ounce to ihe pound, it is a good 
application for the thrush and 
canker ; a snialler quantity, mix- 
ed with olive oil, makes a good 
stimulating liniment. 

Aloes. — There are two kinds 
used in horse practice, the Bar- 
badoes and the Cape. The Bar- 
badoes aloes have a greater pur- 
gative power than the Cape, ex- 
clusive of griping less and being 
safer, and the action of the bow- 
els is kept up longer. 

Alum, — is used internally in 
cases of over-purging, in the form 
of alum-whey, two drachms of 
the powder being added to a pint 
of hot milk. Its principal use is 
external. A solution of t.vo 
drachms to a pint of water forms 
alone, or with the addition of a 
small quantity of white vitriol, 
a very useful wash for cracked 
heels, and for grease generally; 
and also for those forms of swel- 
led legs attended with exudation 
df mbistare throngh the ekin. 



Anodynes.— Opium is the only 
drug that will lull pain. It may 
be given as an anodyne, but it 
will also be an astringent in 
doses of 1, 2, or 3 drachms. 

Camphor. — It diminishes the 
frequency of the pulse, and sof- 
tens its tone. When long ex- 
hibited, it acts on the kidnej^s. 
Externally applied, it is said to 
be a discutient and an anodyne 
for chronic sprains, bruises and 
tumors. 

Spanish Flies, — are the basis 
of the most approved and useful 
veterinary blisters. An infusion 
of two ounces of the flies in a 
pint of oil of turpentine, for sev- 
eral da3's, is occasionally used 
as a liquid blister; and, when 
sufficiently lowered with com- 
mon oil, it is called a sweating 
oil. They have been recom- 
mended for the cure of glanders. 
The dose is from five to eight 
grains given daily, but withheld 
for a day or two when diuresis 
supervenes. 

Guinea -Pepper. — They are val- 
uable as stimulants. Their bene- 
ficial effect in cases of cold has 
seldom been properl}^ estimated. 
The dose is from a scruple to 
half a drachm. 

Caraway Seeds. — These and 
ginger, alone or combined, are 
the best stimulants used in horso 
practice. 

Castor Oil — is an expensive 
medicine. It must be given in 
large doses. 

Japan Earth — is a very useful 
astringent. It is given in over- 
purging, in doses of one or two 
drachms, with opium. 

CnARckJAL— ie cieifl^lOnally «ee<4 



Medicines. 



189 



as an antiseptic, being made into 
a poultice with linseed meal, and 
applied to foul and offensive ul- 
cers, and to cracked heels. 

VERmoRis is usefully applied 
externally as a mild caustic. 
Either alone, in the form of fine 
powder, or mixed witli an equal 
quantity of the sugar of lead, it 
eats down proud flesh, or stiijiu- 
lates old ulcers to healthy action. 
When boiled with honey and 
vinegar, it constitutes the far- 
rier's Egyptiacum, certainly of 
benefit in cankered or ulcerated 
mouth, and no bad application 
for thrushes. 

Blue Vitriol. — It is a favorite 
tonic with many practitioners. 
It is principally valuable as an 
external application, dissolved in 
water in the proportion of two 
drachms to a pint, and acting as 
a gentle stimulant. If an ounce 
is dissolved in the same quanti- 
ty of water, it becomes a mild 
caustic. In the former propor- 
tion, it rouses old ulcers to a 
healthy action, and disposes even 
recent wounds to heal more 
quickly than they otherwise 
would do; and in the latter it 
removes fungous granulations or 
proud flesh. It is also a good 
application for canker in the foot. 

Creosote — is much valued on 
account of its antiseptic proper- 
ties and stopping hemorrhages. 
It is both a stimulant and a ton- 
ic. In an undiluted state, it acts 
as a caustic. In the form of a 
lotion, a liniment, or an ointment, 
it has been useful in farcy and 
glanders, also in foot-rot, canker 
and thrush. As a caustic, it acts 
as a powerful stimulant. 

Digitalis — Fox-Glove. — The 
leaves of the comiaoQ fox-glove, 



gathered about the flowering 
time, dried carefully in a dark 
place, and powdered, and kept 
in a close black bottle, form one 
of the most valuable medicines 
in veterinary practice. It is a 
direct and powerful sedative, di- 
minishing the frequency of the 
pulse, and the general irritabil- 
ty of the system, and acting also 
as a mild diuretic : it is, there- 
fore, useful in every inflamma- 
tory and febrile complaint, and 
particularly in inflammation of 
the chest. It is usually given in 
combination with emetic tartar 
and nitre. The average dose is 
one drachm of digitalis, one and 
a half of emetic tartar, and three 
of nitre, repeated twice or thrice 
in a day. 

Diuretics — constitute a useful 
class of medicines. They stimu- 
late the kidneys to secrete more 
than the usual quantity of urine, 
or to separate a greater than or- 
dinary proportion of the watery 
parts of the blood. 

In swelled legs, cracks, grease, 
or accumulation of fluid in any 
part, and in those superficial erup- 
tions and inflammations which 
are said to be produced by hu- 
mors floating in the blood, diuret 
ics are evidently benefifial ; but 
they should be as mild as possi- 
ble, and not oftener given or con- 
tinued longer than the case re- 
quires. 

Gentian stands at the head of 
the vegetable tonics, and is a 
stomachic, as well as a tonic. — 
Four drachms of gentian, two of 
chamomile, one of carbonate of 
iron, and one of ginger, will 
make an excellent tonic ball. An 
infusion of gentian is one of the 
best applications to putrid ulcers. 



190 



Medicines. 



Ginger — is as valuable as a 
cordial, as srentian is as a tonic. 
It is the basis of the cordial ball, 
and it is indispensable in tlie 
tonic ball. 

Helebore, bJacJc. — This is used 
mostly as a local application, and 
as such it is a very powerful 
stimulant. 

Injections. — See Clysters. 

Iodine. — This is one of the 
most valuable drugs used in the 
veterinar}' practice. It is used 
in reducing ever}' species of tu- 
mors. It is used in various forms. 
Iodine of potassium is best ad- 
ministered internally, as a pro- 
moter of absorfition. Combined 
with the sulphate of copper, it 
forms a powerful and useful ton- 
ic ; whilst in the form of iodine 
of mercury, and combined with 
lard or palm oil, it becomes a 
powerful blister, and a useful 
promoter of absorption. 

Chloride of Lime is exceeding- 
ly valuable. Diluted with twen- 
ty times its quantity of water, 
it helps to form the poultice ap- 
plied to offensive discharges. — 
The foetid smell of fistulous with- 
ers, poll-evil, canker, and ill- 
conditioned wounds, is imme- 
diately removed, and the ulcers 
are mor* disposed to heal. 

Linseed is often used instead 
of water, for the drink of the 
horse with sore throat or catarrh, 
or disease of the urinary organs, 
or of the bowels. 

Mashes, — constitute a very im- 
portant part of horse-provender, 
whether in sickness or health. 

Mustard Sinapis. — This will be 
found useful, if, in inflammation 
of the chest or bowels, it is well 
rubbed on the chest or abdomen. 

Nitrous Ether, Spirit of, — is 



a very useful medicine in the ad- 
vanced stages of fever. 

Opium, — However underrated 
by some, is a valuable drug; but 
it is a powerful antispasmodic, 
sedative and astringent. 

Palm Oil, — is the ver}' best 
substance that can be used for 
making masses and balls. 

^^iTCH. — The best plaster for 
sand-crack consists of one pound 
of pitch and an ounce of yellow 
beeswax melted together. 

Nitrate of Potash (Nitre) is a 
valuable cooling medicine and a 
mild diuretic, and therefore" it 
should enter into the composition 
of every fever-ball. Dose is from 
two to four drachms. 

Poultices. — Few horsemen are 
aware of the value of these sim- 
ple applications in abating inflam- 
mation, relieving pain, cleansing 
wounds, and disposing them to 
to heal. Linseed meal forms the 
best general poultice, because it 
longest retains the moisture. 

Sedatives, — are medicines that 
subdue irritation, repress spas- 
modic action, or deaden pain. — 
Digitalis, hellebore, opium, tur- 
pentine, are medicines of this 
kind. 

Sugar of Lead, — See under 
Lead . 

Sulphur. — It is an excellent 
alterative, combined usually with 
antimony and nitre, and particu- 
larly for mange, surfeit, grease, 
hide-bound, or want of condition; 
and it is a useful ingredient ia 
the cough and fever ball. 

Tar, — melted with an equal 
quantity of grease, forms a good 
stopping of the farrier. But its 
principal virtue seems to consist 
in preventing the penetration of 
dirt and water to the wounded 



Receipts. 



191 



part ; and is used with the usnal 
cough medicine, and in doses of 
two or three drachms for chronic 
cough. 

Turpentine — is one of the best 
diuretics, in doses of half an 
ounce, and made into a ball with 
linseed meal and powdered gin- 
ger. The oil of turpentine is an 
excellent antispasmodic. For the 
removal of colic, it stands unri- 
valled. 

Zinc — Calamine. Powder. — Five 
parts of lard and one of resin are 
melted together, and when these 
begin to get cool, two parts of 
the calamine, reduced to an im- 
palpable powder, are stirred in. 
If the wound is not health^'-, a 
small quantity of common tur- 
pentine may be added. Tiiis 
salve justly deserves tlie name 
which it has gained, "The Heal- 
ing Ointment." The calamine 
is sometimes sprinkled with ad- 
vantage on cracked heels and su- 
perficial sores. 



EECEIPTS. 

Wonderful Liniment. — 2 oun- 
ces oil of spike, 2 do organum, 2 
do hemlock, 2 do wormwood, 4 do 
sweet oil, 2 do spts. ammonia, 2 
do gum camphor, 2 do spts. tur- 
pentine, and one quart of proof 
spts. 95 per cent, mix well to- 
gether, and bottle tight. 

For sprains, bruises, lameness, 
&c., &c., the above liniment can- 
not be equalled, and is actually 
worth SlOO to any person keep- 
ing valuable horses. Omit the 
turpentine and you have the best 
liniment ever made for human 
ails, such as rheumatism ^sprains ; 



and whenever an outward ap. 
plication is required, try it and 
prove its virtues. It acts like 
magic. 

Rheumatic Liniment. — Take 
alcohol^ pt., oil of origanum ^ oz., 
cayenne ^ oz., gum myrrh .^ oz., 1 
tea spoonful lobelia., and let all 
stand one day, then bathe the part 
affected. I paid $5 for this recipe. 

Relief Liniment. — Take h pt. 
linseed oil, add .^ pt. spts. turpen- 
tine, 1 ounce origanum, and one 
ounce oil of vitriol ; an excellent 
liniment for rheumatism, sprains, 
bruises, tfec, try and pi-ove it. 

CnLOROFORM Liniment. — For re- 
lieving suffering in case of burns, 
(fee, mix chloroform and cod- 
liver oil. 

Soap Liniment. — Take 1 oz. 
organum, 1 oz. castecl soap, 1 pt. 
alcohol, for swellings, &c. 

General Liniment. — Turpen- 
tine one-half pint, linseed oil one 
half pint, aquamonia 4 oz., tr. of 
iodine 1 — shake it all well. This 
is used for different things spoken 
of in the different receipts, sores 
or swellings, sprains, <fec. 

Black Linimentn — This is good 
to apply on poll evil — fistula. — 
Take of linseed oil half pint, tr. 
of iodine 3 oz., turpentine 4 oz., 
oil of origanum 1 oz. — shake all 
well and apply it every day. — 
Rub it in well with 3-our hand — 
wash the part clean with soap 
and water before applying it. — 
This is good on any swelling. 

Johnston's Liniment — Take oil 
of origanum one oz., alcohol one 
halt-pint, oil of cedar one half- 
yunce, oil ofcloves one half-ounce, 
turpentine one half-ounce, olive 
oil 8 oz. — sliake all well. This 
is used for almost all complaints 
of the muscles. 



192 



Receipts. 



Opodeldoc. — Tate alcohol half 
a gallon, 2 pounds of castile soap, 
4 oz. gum camphox', 2 oz. oil of 
ambre; place the alcohol into a 
pot in hot water, shave up the soap 
and keep it hot until all dissolves, 
and you have the old original 
opodeldoc. 

Greex Ointment. — Take 6 lbs. 
lard, put into ten gallon kettle, 
add 2 gallons of water, cut jimp- 
son weeds, and fill them in and 
cook them four to six hours, slow, 
and cook all the water out, then 
put into jars, add to each pound 
of ointment one ounce of turpen- 
tine. This is a good and cheap 
stable ointment — good for galls, 
cuts, scratches, <fec. 

Sloan's Ointment — Take mut- 
ton tallow 4 lbs., beeswax one 
half pound, rosin one half pound, 
turpentine 3 oz., — melt over a 
slow fire, and, when partly cold, 
add the turpentine, and you have 
the same ointment. Sloan sells to 
cure everything; try it and prove 
its value. 

Iodine Ointment. — Get 1 oz. of 
the grease iodine, 1 pin t of alcohol, 
let this stand in the sun two days, 
and this is the tincture of iodine. 
Take 2 oz. of tincture and one- 
half pound of lard ; mix well, and 
you have the iodine ointment. — 
This is used wherever the receipts 
refer to the ointment. 

White Ointment. — For rheu- 
matism, sprains, burns, swellings, 
bruises, or any inflammation on 
man or beast, chapped hands or 
lips, black e3'es, or any kind of 
bruise. Take fresh butter 2 lbs., 
tr. of iodine half oz., oil of ori- 
ganum 2 oz — mix this well for 
fifteen minutes and it is fit for 
use — apply it every night ; rub 
it in well with your hand. If 



for human flesh, lay on warm 
flannel. 

Blue Ointment. — Take the 
ointment of rosin 4 oz., half oz. 
of finely ground verdigi'is, 2 oz. 
of turpentine, mutton tallow 2 
lbs., half oz. oil of origanum, half 
oz. tr. of iodine — mix all well. — 
This is one of the best medicines 
that can be made, for scratches, 
hoof-evil, cuts, and is good to ap- 
ply on fistula, after the rowels 
have been taken out. 

Hoof Ointment. — Take rosin 4 
oz., beeswax 6 oz., lard 2 lbs. ; 
melt together, pour it into a pot, 
and 3 oz. of turpentine, 2 oz,; 
of finely powdered verdigris 1 
lb tallow — stir all until it gets 
cool. This is one of the best 
medicines for the hoof ever used. 
It is good for corks or bruises of 
the feet. 

Hoof Liquid. — For tender feet, 
hoof-bound, (fee. Linseed or neats 
foot oil, half a pint of either, tur- 
pentine 4 oz., oil of tar 6 oz., ori- 
ganum 3 oz., shake this well and 
apply it as the directions for the 
ointment. This is the best, if the 
horse has been lame long — it pen- 
etrates tlie hoof sooner than tha 
ointment — both of them should 
be applied at night. 

Hoof Evil, or Thrush, Orease 
Heels. — Bleed, and physic, and 
poultice the foot with boiled tur- 
nips and some fine ground char- 
coal — this must be done at night, 
for two or three nights, then 
wash the foot clean with castile 
soap and soft water, and apply 
the blue ointment every day — 
keep the horse on a floor floor, 
and he will be well in twelve 
da3's. 

Hoof-Bound or Tender Feet 
— Never have the feet spread at 



Receipts. 



193 



the heels nor rasped above the 
nail holes, for it will do the foot 
an injury. Follow the directions 
given here. Use either the hoof 
ointment or the hoof liquid ; ap- 
ply it according to directions. — 
For hoof bound or tender feet, 
apply it all around the top of the 
hoof down one inch every third 
da}^ If for split hoof, apply it 
every day. First, have a stiff 
shoe on the foot, and cleanse the 
cut or crack. Never cut or burn 
for it. 

Hoof Ail. — Apply blue vitriol 
and put on a tarred rag to keep 
out the dirt. 

No. 2. Wash well with warm 
soap suds — wipe dry with a cloth, 
then take two spoonfuls of com- 
mon table salt, two spoonfuls of 
copperas, pulverize, four spoon- 
fuls of soft soap, mix well; spread 
it upon a thick cloth, apply to the 
foot, then confine it with a ban- 
dage. Let it remain twelve hours, 
then wash as before. 

HooF-BouND. — Pare the heel 
of the hoof till it is as flat and 
natural as a colt's ; ihen take 
equal parts pitch pine and butter 
Bin:mered together and annoint 
the heel. 

Big or Milk Leg. — Apply the 
liquid blisterer every three hours 
until it blisters ; then in six hours 
grease with soft oil of any kind ; 
then in eight days wash the part 
clean and apply it again. Repeat 
it three or four times, then use 
the iodine ointment. If this does 
not remove it all, apply the spav- 
in medicine. This will remove 
it all. 

tSpRAiN IN THE Stifle. — Symp- 
toms — the horse holds up his foot, 
moans wlien moved, swells in the 
stifle- This is what is called 



stifling. There is no such thing 
as this joint getting out of place. 

Cure — Bleed two gallons, fer- 
ment the stifle with hot water, 
rub it dry, then bathe it well with 
the general liniment every morn- 
ing and night ; give him a mash 
and he will be well. Never al- 
low any stifl-eshoe or cord on the 
foot or leg. 

How TO CURE Corns. — Take off 
the shoe, cut out the corns and 
drop in a few drops of muriatic 
acid, then make the shoes so as 
they will not bear on the part af- 
fected. Apply the hoof liquid 
to the hoof to remove the fever. 
This is a sure treatment. I nev- 
er knew it to fail. 

Corns. — Take the shoe off 
and give the horse a free run at 
grass for a few weeks. This will 
frequently cure. 

Founder in the First Stages. — 
Bleed from the neck vein 2 or 3 
gallons, or until he falls, then give 
the following : Half oz. of aloes, 
4 drachms gamboge, half oz. of 
oil of sassafras, make this into a 
pill, give it, and give him all the 
sassafras tea he will drink: turn 
up his feet and fill them full of 
boiling hot lard, bathe his legs in 
hot water, and rub them well. — 
This will never fail to cure in 48 
hours. 

Cure por Founder. — Take 2 
oz. saleratus, 2 oz. alum, dissolved 
in a pail of water, keep the horse 
without drink until he will drink 
it. Let one day pass, and then 
give 2 ounces of sulphur, 1 oz. 
copperass, in molasses and milk, 
repeat the dose t\vice,n and fill th 
hough with fresh cow-manure for 
several days. 

No 2. Give the horse one 
spoonful pulverized alum, hold 



101 



IviirMipiM. 



up \\\n \wtv\ UMlU ho NwnllowN It 
No, M, MiN Olio pint' ol" Miin 
tlowor nimmI In IiIm I'ood, 

Hi'WMN ANO Iv'iNU HoNti INIlilM 

»HN»>', 'riiKo ol ««nnll>tnl«l(>n V, o#,, 
no>r»MU'li>l olnliuont <i oi*,, tr. ol' 
io.iino M o*,, hirpoMlIno 4 oi*,, oor 
ntnivo MuWliinitlo M tlnoOnim litis 
nil woll Willi W poiiiolw ol Imi«I 
oolor il il' >ovi liKo l-'ollow llio 
»lii'.>olioiiP« lioro ^iv.oi 

ir loi' rinw Itoiio Ol" l>oiio npii\ in, 
o\tt olVllio luilr iVoiu lh(> pni'l itl' 
1\m«Io»I, luol uioi'oly m'0«i«o tlio 
liintp willt llto oliiltuonl. U\\\\ 
il in woll willt llto nnUod Iwntil 
In I wo «ln\ rt, n''*^""!" Ih»> purl Willi 
l(U'«l. mol III loni'.lnv" w«>li il oil 
Willi floup niol wolor. itml nppl,\ 
tloi oinlnoMkI HMiiin, So i'i<p«>Ml 
il ovoi'v I'oui' <lu,v«, ir lor wiiol 
^wU, o«' l»\»nnpuvlu, t»V «Mlll». Hp 
piv ll>«> olnlnionl ovio'v wis »li»V», 

TMk IWlpO IU\M IXMMI ,.oM l\.| 

Si'AVlN. rmiiplKM .li>i,.lv .'.I in 
opln. ol' h»rp«>u(in.\ nppli.sl until 
lln» linlr wlurU 

No. SJ. Oil vilriol, ori^inumi, 
ooiliO' oil, Mpitninh Uioi*, otpittl 
parli* ; il or. tiupotitino. 

ToOv'ttK IviNo lUiNK wnh'N v\\\w\' 
ooMiNO, lhi»«olv«> ono «|UiU'l*>r 
poiiinl of mtll potro in ono tpiitrt 
ol Boll wulor, niol \v«i«h wilU il 
I wi«'«' i» <lt»\ ri»irt will t»h»p I ho 
(.growth ruol lninonoM, itiol not 
I'tMuov iho liitir. 

IviNo Honk, Titlio of no!*, of 
Inrponlino, oil k\( npiKo, ol oi»oh 
I I'unoo ; hoHlo (uol ii»i\ woll ; 
(Ion lohl I o\ini>,» of oil viliiol, 
hiiili I ho (linoitooti p(»i'l woll for 
lliioo >ln\ n, iiiol <li'ivo tl in hy I ho 
ttpplouMion \\\ i\ hot iron ; (hoit 
umpoihl II \\y\' |IummI«\(», Io pro 
\ onl I ho ptul hoooniin^,' loo #k\\'o ; 
thou Hpplv (I ,'oino«ly Mjii»in. 
Tho >»oi>o nhonhl ho n"oiUo<l wilh 
Im «1, or oinl luoni . lhii> nill onvo 



llio tli«o««o If nol of loo hnif^ 

Htlllulil4l\ 

I'ou l'',vu.. Tiiio lioloio it. 
Im.<mIm«; run a rowol or nolon 
lioiii ilio lowor pnii of lh»»nwoU 
liiui' Io llio lop ihroii»li Iho oon- 
Iro of lho<inhH>)oiiiniil, ihon innUi) 
Iho following lotion. TitKo of 
niiliinioniito \^ o« , Miitl Inrponlino 
npti tU hitll pini, I or, linnooil oil, 
mill I on ol Mpn Km of lar ; nhnl(« 
nil woll, Kiiil itpply il all ovorlho 
NWollin^ ovory (illior <lii\'. lot 
llio Bolon ulay In tinlil nil Iho 
nwollinK in fjfoiio down inovo it 
ovory «lity, aiol whon all i« ^ond 
iliavv it oMl„ nioo.l wlion yovi 
llivil opon il ; Uooplli(< partoliwin. 

l*OI I, I'lvil M' » HM ir IMIh'NUM, If 

yon IIikI I'\ pi I'lnn^^ il llial Iho 
pipo« I nil <l<'\\ II lowardrt llio B\>r 
Inoo. mil (low II a nolon Ihronuh 
Iho hollotn of Iho pipo, an<l anoint 
il wilh Iho following' oinlnionl. 
I'ako \A' iiK't'onnal oinlnionl 1 ov„, 
luiil ol canllianiloK hall an onnoo ; 
luioiiil thonolon i>vrvy «lay nntii 
Il rniiM a hloo<ly niallor, {\\p\\ 
draw it onl, if iho pipon rnn (h»wn 
Io Iho ooiitro t»f iho i«lionhlori»; 
Ihon rnn down a plooo of llio ni- 
Iro of nilvor Io Iho holloni, and 
n«o Iho Injnid in I lio no\l follow- 
ing roooipt; apply n on Iho 
Koro ovory day; Ko.'p llio part 
oloan will* noap and walor. 

I.igrn* kou I'ou. Mvii., TaKo 
«divooil i\ onno«tM, Inrponlino half 
or., oil of onuaiinin hall o?,, 
Anioiioan «»r nonoUa oil M or 
Miv woll and apply il to Iho nart 
alV«>olod, aflor iho nil ro of nil v or 
hao hoon u«od. Apply lhi>» ovory 
low dayn, nnlil it hoali» up, Tho 
oloanor yon K.-op llo' piiil Iho 
hollor 

l\n \. Va \\. \M> I'lvti I I \ rh'im 
Iho »oro lhroutiho\it willv woup* 
Hinirt ; no»»nd Iho pipo or nipo*' 
lind Ihoir duo. lion and doplh 



IlKOIOfM'rt. 



105 



ilinii tdlco «l,in' \}i\\>(>r, roll it, in a 

linl'ti mIiiiIik itlxillt (,lin Nl/d *>i (I 
liTMOHc (jiiil ; (ill wil.li lirnciiic oc 
puliiHii ; <|iii|lil<' «*v<'i' t lin oinU ; 
itiHci'l, I.Im^ |ii|Mi iiinl |mihIi im' ilrivd 
it to Uki lioMoin, M*u'v*^ nil lJi« 
pij'OM ii, |,|i<i Hiiriiii tiiiiiiiM^r, il. 
^vlll lin«(il( looKti ill 'A to wiinkn, 
(MfiiiiHM i(, oiin t\ny wil.li noit|» 
mikIx, uimI ik'xI. wil.li II wiihIi com 

|M.H(-(| of <MI<> (,<WI'<|M»lMirill <»r Wllilo 

vil.riol, iiihI I (|(*. Inii'iil. <'o|oi<'i'aH, 
on<< <l<), JMirnl. iiliiin, otio ot ^iiii 
powder, in oii« |iiiit, of niiii wa- 
ter. Oil l.lir, H<.ro w<ll all.er 
W(i«liiii//. 

KiMi'M/.A.-'r/ikn (iMo pint o/'ul 
coliol, iji pt, tiirpcnlincf, I o/. in- 
<l\(',(>, iipply onro n (lay. 

To hldVir, OKK j'ol.r, i'>ri. IIKKOHK 

n MiticAMH. — TiiKn 4 o/. oil of 
npikc, I of Uriliwli oil, oim' <iitrlil,li 
«if wliil.M vitriol, J of extract of 
fnnllcn lic/ir».H ; apply twi(i<i a 
(liiy. SliriUe w«'ll hcforo you ap- 
ply. (iiv«itlie cIcHiMiii)^ powfler 
to cIcniiHe tli(» M<mmI. 

(h.\Ni)i;u». — lllccd r,opi.>nMly, 
put a rowel (»r neton of p«»lk root 
lM'tw»!en tlin Jaw iind IneaMt, in 
Nert tar np tlio noMtiilM twi<;o a 
day tlioron^^lily. 

IMo. li —Tiike i Ih. tine eiit to 
Uticc.i), add lii (|t. waini water^ let 
Hoak a /'ew ininnteK, watili lilx 
tlir<»at, eaiH, neck, to IiIh le^M, re 
peal, onc,(! in t.liree, honrM. Honm 
n;(ioinnM!nd It ^'von Inlornally. 

Watkk Kaiu,'V, — 'I'liin in a »w<d- 
lint( alon^ under tli<) clie^.t, and 
forward to the hrca^t.. Itlccd, 
rowel in tilt* l>reax.t and all alon|{ 
the »W(!llin(^, nix inchen apart, iip- 
|»ly the general lininuMit to tho 
Mwellini^, niov«) tho row«dt4 every 
day ; let theni htay in ii/itil the 
MW«'llin>^ (^ocK down, (iivn Hoft 
food - -inaHhoH, with theeJe.afMinj^- 
'.>owde,r ill i(, - t.liiti m <lroj>ny. 



'Vixf Kiucir, ])tn<ntA}uiv. ok IfuiNM. 
Hive one half »»/„ of thn Ir. of cati- 
tharidew o\■l^vy morning for ten 
or twelve diiyw, and if not entire- 
ly well, repelit itaj/aiii, and Mend 
one ^rallon from tho iieck~ni\e 
elean food. The can«M in rolt«-n 
«»r inimt^ K'*"'". •"' •"" l'i'«in in«e of 
tnrpeiitiiHi. Keep him open with 
niaHlnm and jrr«'«ni food. 

hmi.Aur; ok tiiio l>ivi(;ii, on Via,- 
i,<»w W'au.;u. (iive the followini^ 
liall i^vi^vy nM.rnin>/ until it op' 
erate« upon the l.nweU, Take 
7 draehnmof aloeM, and I drachm 
of c/iloiiM I, 1 draehniH of ^intrer, 
and inolanHen enough to nmke it 
into a hall, wrap it in paper and 
«ive it; jrive Kcaldcd hran and 
oal.M, t^idHH ifitean he j/ot ; when 
liin howeU have niov«"d, wtop tlie 
phynie, and j/ive I o/,. npiiitn of 
e.amphor in a half |Mnt of wattir 
t^Viiry mornintr lor twelve <layn; 
rowel in the hreant, aiiri j^ivi) a 
few dortcH of (deaimini/ powhr, 
Turn h.in out. ' 

l''iiicttir WoiiNon. Kir«t, «lop the 
wound hy tyin^r the arteri«'i«, or 
hy applvinj^ the ((dlowinj^r witnh : 
i p;r. <d nitr»i of silver, I o/,, <d' 
Mol't water, wet tli(« wound with 
thin and then draw the ed»{eM to- 
j/cl.herhy Htil.chenone inch apart, 
then wa^'.li clean, and if any MWel- 
linp; in twenty lour hour«, hieed, 
and apply the hliie ointment, or 
any of tfie liniriientN N|*oke,ii of. 
Kijep the howeU open. 

Jtiio/KKM. — Take Arnica hlo;« 
Hom« »te()ped in whinkey. 

(/i;i«K I'-OH ItM,K;< (»N WiituiKM,—- 

I'erniit the patient to have a run 
for f* or ». weckH in a /;ood pa»t 
turn, antj (^ive a litt.jc, pliyijc in 
Hhorl,N or ninal. 

(/UUK Kou Champ. - (iive arJoMo 
of cathartic, iiiedicinnN and hot 
ronicntatio;if» to the liinl/'i, and a 
lillle rent,. 



1G6 



Keoeipts. 



Balls for "Worms. — Barnadoes 
Aloes 6 dra., powdered ginger 1«^ 
oz., oil of wormwood 20 drops, 
powdered natron, 2 dra. ; molas- 
ses to form a ball. 

Ball for Hide Bound. — Bar- 
nadoes Aloes, i oz, Castile soap, 
9 dra., ginger 6 dra. 

Physic-Ball. — One half ounce 
of aloes, 3 drachms of gamboge, 
20 drops of the oil of "juniper; 
make it into a pill with a few 
drops of molasses ; wrap it up in 
thin paper and grease it; draw 
out the tongue with the left hand; 
place the gag in the mouth, and 
run the pill back with the right 
hand until it drops off, let the 
head down and give a sup of 
of water. First, prepare the horse 
by giving one or two mashes. 

Liquid Blisterer. — ^Take alco- 
hol 1 pint, turpentine one half- 
pint, aquamonia 4 oz., oil of ori- 
ganum 1 oz.; apply this as spoken 
of every three hours until it blis- 
ters. Do not repeat oftener than 
once in eight days, or seven at 
least, or it will kill the hair. 

Healing Ointment. --Take five 
parts of lard, one of rosin, melt 
together; when they begin to 
get cool add two parts of calo- 
mine powder. If the wound is 
unhealthy add a little turpen- 
tine. 

Galls on Horses. — Bath the 
parts affected with spirits satura- 
ted with alum. 

G-RUBs IN Horses. — Take a tea 
spoonful of red precipitate, form 
into a ball, repeat, if necessary, 
ill 30 minutes. 

Worms. — Give one quart of 
strong tea made of worm-wood at 
night, the next day give? drachms 
of aloes, 2 drachms of calomel, 
make it into a ball and give it; 
give no cold water for 48 hours ; 



make it milk-warm; give him 2 
or 3 bran mashes, and some of 
the cleansing-powder; if he shows 
any more symptoms, repeat the 
dose in three weeks. This will 
never fail. 

AVarts. — Cut them out by the 
roots — take the tenackulum or 
hook, run it through the warts, 
and draw and cut round it, and 
draw it out ; if it should bleed 
too much, take 5 grains of nitre of 
silver, and 1 oz. of water; wet a 
sponge, and merely touch the part 
with this wash, and it will stop 
them ; treat it as any fresh wound 
— still, every time you wash it, 
scratch the scab off, so the scar 
will be small. This is the only 
sure way to treat them. 

Groggy Knees. — This can be 
cured in the first stages, but if 
of long standing, there is no cure. 
Have shoes made thick at the toe 
and thin at the heels ; take lin- 
seed oil, half pint, alcohol 4 oz., 1 
oz. camphor spirits, 2 oz. lauda- 
num — shake and apply to back 
l^art of legs, rub it in well every 
4 days; still increase the thick- 
ness of the shoes at the toe. 

Sore Moutu or Tongce. — Take 
of borax 3 drachms,and 2 drachms 
of sugar of lead, half oz. of alum, 
one pint of sage tea — shake all 
well together, and wash the 
mouth out every morning. Give 
no hay for twelve da3's. 

Cleansing Powder — This is to 
be used when the blood is out of 
order — good to restore lost appe- 
tite — yellow vv^ater ; and wherev- 
er it is to be used, it is spoken of. 
Take 1 pound of good ginger, 4 
oz. powdered gentian, 1 oz. nitre, 
half oz. crude antimony — mix all 
well. Give one large spoonful 
every da}^, in wet food. This ia 
perfectly safe. 



Keceipts. 



197 



Sick Stomach. — Bleed half a 
gallon, then if he will eat a mash 
give him one ; give no hay ; then 
give him half oz. rhubarb every 
night until it moves his bowels; 
then take of gentian root 4 oz., 
feni-greak 2 oz., nitre one-half 
oz. — inlx and give a large spoon- 
ful every day; do not give him 
too much to eat when his appe- 
tite returns. 

Stiff Shoulders or Swekney. — 
Rowel fi'om the top of the shoul- 
der blade down as far as there 
is no pealing. First, cut through 
the skin, and then two thin fi- 
bres or strippings ; use the blunt 
needle, move it back and forward 
five or six inches ; draw in a tape 
or seton, and the next morning 
wet it with the tincture of can- 
tharides ; do this every other 
day, move them every day — wash 
the part clean — let the tape stay 
in until the matter changes to 
blood : this is for both diseases. 
Let him run out, if possible. He 
will be well in six or eight weeks. 
If for sv/eene}', j'ou may work 
him all the time. 

Lung Fever. — Bleed four gal- 
lons from the neck vein, and take 
one oz. of aquanite, add to it lialf 
gallon of cold water ; drench him 
with one gill of it ever}^ 3 hours, 
blister him over the lungs, then 
give him water to drink that liay 
has been boiled in, and to each 
gallon of it one oz. of gum arabic, 
and half an ounce of spirits of ni- 
tre — give this every four hour?, 
rub well, foment and I'ub the legs 
with alcoliul and camphor, until 
they get wann — do not move him. 
Keep him in open stall, if hot 
weather. 

Eye Lotion. — Take of linseed 
oil one pint, add to it two oz. of 
spirits of ether, gum camphor 
half an oz. Let it stand in some 



warm place until the oil cuts the 
gum., and it is fit for use. Ap- 
ply it to the eye every morning 
with a soft feather; get it into 
the eyes as well as possible. 

Eye- Wash. — Take of sugar of 
lead .2 drachms, white vitriol 1 
drachm, add to this 1 quart of 
soft water ; let it stand for 6 or 
9 hours, and it is fit for use. — 
Wash the eyes out well every 
morning, after first washing the 
eyes well with cold water; fol- 
low this up for 3 or four weeks, 
and then if the eyes are not much 
better, bleed and give a mild 
physic. The horse should be 
kept on low diet, and not over 
heated or worked too hard ; 
scalded shorts and oats are good. 

Mange and Surfeit. — Bleed 
and physic, then take sulphur 
one-half pound, 2 pounds lard ; 
mix well, grease the part affected 
every three or four days, stand 
the horse in the sun until all dries 
in, give him a few doses of the 
cleansing-powder. 

Contraction of the Neck. — If 
it is taken in the first stages, 
bleed from the neck two gallons, 
then ferment or bathe the pai"t 
well with hot water, rub it dry 
and take the general liniment 
and apply it every day, two or 
three times ; this will cure, if it 
is of long standing. Then blister 
all along the part affected, with 
the liquid blister. Do this every 
three wrecks until he is well, and 
rub with the white ointment. 

Drops to make oi.d HoiiSKS 
Young. — Take the tr. of asafoeti- 
da 1 oz., tr. of cantharides 1 oz., 
oil of cloves 1 oz., oil ot cinnaujou 
one oz., antimony 2oz., fenegreak 
one oz., fourth proof brandy half 
gallon; let it stand ten or twelve 
days, and give ten drops in a pail 
of wat^r — or one gallon. 



Apoplexy. 



MEDICINES FOR THE HORSE-THEIR ACTION AND DOSES. 



Muriatic Acid, 

Isitric Acid, 

Sulphuric Acid. 

Gentian, 

Peruvian Bark, 

Sulphate of Iron, 

Myrrh, 

Sulphate of Tine, 

Oxide of Tine, 

Strychnine, 

Iodide of Iron, 

Alum, 

Nut galls. 

Sugar of Lead, 

Iodine, 

Corrosive Sublimate, 

Hydriodate of Potash, 

Calomel, 

Epsom Salts, 

Glauber Salts, 

Aloes, 

Calomel, 

Croton Oil, 

Nitrate of Potash, 

Carbonate of Potash, 

Tincture Digitalis, 

Tincture Colchicum, 

Cream of Tartar, 

Spirits of Nitre, 

Resin, 

Spirits of Turpentine, 

Emetic Tartar, 

Opium, 

Laudanum, 

Extract Hyoscyamus, 

Caraway Seeds, 

Sulphur, 

Camphor, 

Tinc.Veratrum Viride, 

Belladona. 



ACTION. 



Tonic, 

Tonic, 

Tonic, 

Tonic, 

Tonic, 

Tonic, 

Tonic, 

Tonic Astringent, 

Tonic, I 

Tonic for Nerves, 

Alterative and Tonic, 

Astringent, 

Astringent, 

Astringent, 

Alterative, 

Alterative, 

Alterative, 

Alterative, 

Purgative, 

Purgative, 

Purgative, 

Purgative, 

Purgative, 

Diuretic, 

Diuretic and Sedative, 

Diuretic and Narcotic, 

Diuretic and Laxative, 

Diuretic, 

D uretic, 

Diuretic, 

Diuretic, 

Nauseaut and Diaphoretic, 

Narcotic, 

Narcotic, 

Narcotic, 

Carminitiye, 

Laxative and Alterative, 

Narcotic, 

Sedative, 

Sedative and Narcotic, 



DOSE 



1 to 2 drachms, 
1 to 2 drachms, 

1 to 2 drachms, 

2 to 4 drachms, 
2 to 4 drachms, 
2 to 4 drachms, 
2 to 4 drachms, 
1 to 2 drachms, 
1 to 2 drachms, 

1 to 3 grains, 
!^ to 1 drachm, 

2 to 4 drachms, 
2 to 4 drachms, 
^ to 1 drachm, 
5 to 10 grains, 
4 to 6 grains, 

i drachm, 
10 to 20 grains, 
i lb, to 1 lb. 
h lb. to 1 lb, 

1 to 2 drachms, 
^ to 2 drachms, 
20 to 30 drops, 

2 to 4 drachms, 
2 to 4 drachms, 
1 to 2 drachms, 
1 to 2 drachms, 
1 to 2 ounces, 

1 to 2 ounces, 
i to one ounce, 
i to one ounce, 
^ to one drachm, 
1 to 2 drachms, 
i to 2 ounces, 
1 to 2 drachms, 
i to 1 ounce, 
1 to 2 ounces, 
1 to 2 drachms, 
20 to 30 drops, 
1 to 2 drachms. 



Used externally, muriatic acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and 
corrosive sublimate are caustic; iodine is alterative; and sugar of 
lead is sedative. 



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